I have made the most of my time during this pandemic, managing to carry on by working, providing assistance for Marie and her family, delivering food to the needy, and catching up on shows I had been dying to watch on Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video. (Doing housework and cleaning? Not so much...)

Although my life has been full, there are some things I miss so badly that my heart aches. It is silly, really, to have such depth of desire for inconsequential things when my family and I are healthy and financially sound despite the surrounding chaos. They are the things that made my life carefree and enjoyable.

Going to the movies had been a real treat. I didn’t go that often, so when I did, it was “special.” It would be a critically acclaimed movie with my best friend and lots of hot “buttered” popcorn and refillable Diet Coke. She, of course, would good-naturedly lecture me on the dangers of the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke. (If she knew the chemicals in the “butter,” that would be another homily, God bless her! I am certainly going to die prematurely, but at least it won’t be from the virus.) We would sit in the comfy theater seats, relaxed in our companionship, and become mesmerized by the story playing before us on the big screen.

Going out to eat was another enjoyable activity. Who would not enjoy the peanuts on the table, birthday best wishes to strangers, and the perky dance of the waiters and waitresses at Texas Roadhouse? Oh, and the food is great also! Who would not enjoy the cheesecake at Chelo’s, the apple crisp at Gregg’s and the clam cakes at Iggy’s? What about the hot turkey plate at the Governor Francis Inn or the steak sandwiches at Dave’s Bar and Grill? Yes, eating out was a favored activity of mine. Somehow it is not the same wearing a mask in a half-empty restaurant and using individual ketchup and salt packets.

My colleague at work, Heather, said she misses getting her hair cut, an activity most of us can relate to (unless baldness is an issue). Many men have grown their hair so long they can pull it back in a ponytail, a la 1970s. My own hair cutting semi-skills have been used to give Hubby a trim, sort of. It looks okay from the front, but it is a good thing he cannot see the BACK of his head …

I miss going shopping, so my recent trip to the Christopher Banks outlet store in Conway, New Hampshire, was joyful! Number one, they have clothes that fit me AND look cute. Number two, the clothes were “on sale” (the perpetual sale they advertise so that shoppers think they are getting a bargain). Number three, I GOT TO TRY THEM ON! There is nothing better than looking in the mirror wearing a new outfit and liking what I see. It was humorous because all of their long sleeved clothing was on sale 75 percent off, whereas if they just wait another month or so, they could pretend it was new and sell it for full price!

Being unable to travel by airplane is a big loss, especially considering we usually go to Hawaii with son Francis and his family for Thanksgiving. No snorkeling among the pretty fish, luaus and hula dancing this year, not to mention real hugs and kisses from the grandchildren. (FaceTime only goes so far.) We also had been fortunate to become “snow birds,” traveling to Florida in the cold weather. This winter, the warmer weather will elude us, unless, with global warming, Rhode Island sees record high temperatures.

Another friend summed it all up. She misses being able to go out without worrying about catching a virus that could kill her. She doesn’t like wearing a mask, standing anywhere near other people, or touching door handles or surfaces that have been touched by others. Ah … our new life worries. When are the movie theaters going to open so I can escape it all, stuffing my face with hot “buttered” popcorn?