Monday, March 14, 2022

Out Among the People

 



This morning I got out of bed and went to the bathroom with almost no pain or hobbling, even though my in bed stretching was about ten seconds. I dunno if it’s a fluke or good news of things to come, but let me tell you, I’ll take it. I'm even going to try a couple fifteen minute walks and we’ll see what happens.


Lately, I’ve been experiencing what I suppose is spring fever. Even as I’ve been living through that last spit of February in Texas. It’s been a full two years since the lockdown began. I’m triply vaxxed and have had a flu shot. Most of my immediate friends and family are the same. I live in a county and greater area where a good 70 percent of the population is vaccinated. My area removed mandatory masking in all cases except medical facilities a week ago.


While I’m not ready to go flying into the sunset, jump on a crowded plane minus an emergency or go to a large sporting event unmasked, I’ve decided that it’s time for cautious optimism. While I hate that often used “I have to live my life, “ phrase, it may apply in this case. It’s time for me to step out of the box and return to normal or at least the new post pandemic normal.


Spring will soon be sprung and I am ready to be sprung as well.


What does that mean, exactly?  This week I’ll be joining my knitting group this afternoon. Tomorrow I have a church social and a residential Saint Patrick’s Day party. Wednesday I am going to lunch (and have an appointment). Thursday I may go listen to Irish music in the evening.


That list of “places to go” doesn’t include group exercise at the gym, or groceries. Mainly because some of the pandemic changes I embraced  and kept included at home exercise with youtube and grocery delivery with the exception of my Aldi visits (one cannot order from the aisle of shame online).  There are also no large group events like baseball games or huge festivals or large music events. Those aren’t my style and if Idid them I would probably wear a mask depending on crowd size.


I have a large pack of masks in my car, and another by my door. But unless things change a bunch, they sit there for large close in person meetings or other large group up close involvement.  I don’t generally do big crowds and I still shop almost exclusively online with some fill-ins, so I am rarely cheek to jowl or back to back.



On Saturday, I got a pedicure (and more) . I have been craving one for a long time.  But minor surgery on my toe, weather circumstances and a bunch of other things had kept me away. I cannot cut my own toenails, and since the podiatrist only does it every few months, I need help. AND I felt the strong need to be pampered. Just a bit. And so off to the salon I went. I was even willing to enter the Saturday fray, something I generally avoid in retirement.



45 minutes later my feet had been soaked in water as hot as I could stand, my feet lumps and bumps had been dealt with, I had had a full massage of feet and legs at length and had enjoyed a treatment of hot paraffin wax. As well as the nail trim and polish, which turned out to be darker than expected!!  My gal was gentle and happy to push my cuticles instead of trip and be kind to my heel and ankle. I left feeling like a new woman.


By the way, rolling your feet on a cold can or bottle is great.  But the heat from Saturday's treatment was fantastic and I’m now looking at budgeting for one of those foot heater things that plug in.


I decided that since I was out, I would be out and enjoy myself for a while. Next, onto the local Cajun seafood restaurant, where I happily ordered a shrimp po’boy meal that included the sandwich, potato spears and salad. All of which I carried to one of my favorite local hangouts that I’ve discovered so far, Steve’s Wine Bar. 


Then came the real among the people part, where I actually sat down at an indoor table, and ate restaurant food while visiting with friends and listening to a few hours of spontaneous Irish music from about twelve different musicians with instruments.  All of which I did at a very high comfort level.


Completely unrelated to Saturday, but yesterday I was one  very cranky retiree.   I slept poorly (unrelated to my social life but related to pain) and my body always goes whacko with the time change. So it’s been rest, recovery and it’ll be early to bed time.  I come down hard on the side of “stop changing the clocks and let daylight savings time be normal time”.


This week I’m going to embrace the 70 to 80 degree weather. I’ll try 30 minutes of limping outside and see what happens. I’ll go to the above-mentioned events at the beginning and by Thursday we’ll know if I’m ready for more in person Irish music indoors, or if I’ve reached my limit.


Or not.



17 comments:

  1. Your Saturday sounds wonderful, even if you paid for it on Sunday.

    We don't have Aldi's here in Canada, but based on your description and that of other bloggers, the next time I'm in the US I must find one. Aisle of shame sounds far too intriguing to miss!

    Have a great week!

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  2. It feels good to be out and about but still be ready with a mask should county numbers go up again. One of my first outings was a pedicure, too. Felt good but at 50 bucks I'm not sure how often I'll get one.

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    1. Mine was forty bucks and it's a regular part of my routine normally.

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  3. Oh my that pedicure sounds wonderful. 45 minutes?? I'm sold. I am still on the cautious/mask ready side.

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  4. I have never had a pedicure, and the one you had sounds awesome.

    Still wearing masks here for shopping as the waste water still shows fairly high levels of the virus.

    God bless.

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  5. I am re-entering the world with baby steps rather than jumping in. I have been to a play (masked) and have eaten out a few times inside. I know TheHub is a little irritated because I will not eat necessarily where we would love to eat, but rather at a restaurant I find has enough space between tables and is not crowded.
    I do still wear my mask in Aldi, but maybe I will go with just my face the next time I shop. Jury is still out.

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    1. Everyone needs to move at their own level.

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  6. I love pedicures especially the hot parafin wax treatment. Heaven! I too am looking forward to getting out more but here in Michigan, it will be awhile before we get spring temperatures.

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    1. Yes I appreciate being where it has started to get warm.

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  7. It sounds like you had a wonderful time! I'm happy for you. We are also starting to venture out. I did get a pedicure but wore a mask, however, we're no longer wearing them at the grocery store or other big box stores. And next month we are going on a road trip. Very exciting.

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    1. Yes I'm happy that traveling is opening up!

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  8. Glad to hear you're getting out. I think "cautious optimism" are the words we're all living by now. I just went back to my table tennis club for the first time in two years. So far, so good.

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  9. You are re-entering social life faster than I am comfortable doing and sounds like you had a nice mix of activities. We are scheduled to go to a concert in a gallery this weekend and I'm sure I will wear my mask unless it is possible to be quite a distance from others. Still wearing it in stores and at meetings too. Cautious optimism on my part.

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  10. Barb,
    Wow! A pedicure, a po'boy, and Steve's Wine Bar...now that's a great way to break out! Enjoy! Spring fever will pass. Joe

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  11. We've begun getting with friends we know to be vaxxed, done some eating out; but only in areas that still don't have tables piled on top of each other. I'm hopeful things will stay that way. It's so much more pleasant not to be crowded shoulder to shoulder, and more quiet and you can actually hear people at your table. Yes, I'm that old that I don't want to go home with a sore throat from yelling at my table mates. I continue to wear a mask while out running errands, as I don't know who's vaxxed and who's not. Still far too many are refusing to be responsible. Like you I switched to exercise at home and do my yoga, and planks in the living room. I use Silver Sneakers and Video's from my gym. Though have found a good number on u-tube as well. I've never liked grocery shopping so ordering and doing curbside pick up may be my regular routine from here on out. Stay well, stay safe. Spotted you on a mutual friends blog and thought I'd pop in for a visit, it's always fun to meet new bloggers.

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Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from others, and I also love to hear all points of view.. Just leave the profanity and insults at home, OK? Thanks!!