Sunday, August 2, 2020

Venturing Out

I'm at loose ends again. The magazine has shipped for this month, and the second draft of my manuscript has been turned in, and even though I have more work in the pipeline, none of it is as steal-your-breath pressing as the book I just finished has felt, and really, I'm grateful to be out from under that pressure. Yet I seem to have no idea what to do with free time. For the first time, the reality of the pandemic lock down in my city is hitting me—no movie theaters to lose myself in the dark. A socially distanced visit with a friend is an option, or should I just climb back into bed and binge watch a series? Any suggestions? I seem to be tapped out, having watched everything that called out to me.

What I ended up doing: I sat on a bench with my friend who lives two buildings over, and we chatted for a while. Then I met my daughter for dinner on the "patio," aka the sidewalk, at one of our favorite restaurants. It was just the two of us, as my niece is in Long Island with her former college roommate (all four years) and best friend. I see photos on social media of them at the beach, making margaritas, laughing. My girl and I laughed, too, sitting outside at our socially distanced table, our masks on till the food came, the waiter, who recognized us and welcomed us back, with his mask on, too. The menu was bare bones, none of our usual favorites, but I supposed they have to figure out how to stay open on a shoestring like everyone else.

It was our first time eating out since quarantine started in March, and I had meant to bring two forks from home, but I forgot, so we sanitized our hands and then wiped the restaurant cutlery with wet wipes and dried them with napkins. I have no idea if that made us safer, but we felt better after that. My daughter chuckled and said "I knew you were the person to do this with," by which she meant venturing back out to restaurant dining. We both ordered baked branzino and the usual Malbec for me and rose for her. This was on of my daughter's "Goodbye New York" bucket list, to have a girls' night with her mom at Community Food and Juice. I love that I am on her list of peak New York experiences.

Her "in laws," as in the mother and capable take-charge sister of her partner (which is what my girl and her boyfriend call each other these days) drove from upstate to help them pack earlier today, and to transport back to his mother's house all the things they will be storing in her garage, like their dining table and chairs, as their student apartment, while renovated and lovely, is tiny. Apparently the university isn't playing around with this covid thing. My daughter's boyfriend, a brainy engineer, is doing an executive MBA, and for the first couple of months at least, classes will be entirely virtual. They decided to move anyway, so that they'll be all set up for when in person classes come back on line. But since my girl will be able to keep her New York job and work remotely (soooo happy that worked out for her) they will have to have separate work stations in their cute but tiny apartment.

We were talking about the fact that quarantine actually gave my girl a lot of gifts: It showed her bosses that she could be super productive working remotely hence she got to keep her job. It showed her and her love that they are very congenial company even when forced to spend every hour of every day together. It also gave them an opportunity to figure out how to work together in the same space, which they will have to do in Boston. The building they're moving into has beautifully appointed common areas with plush chairs and tables, I suppose for when people want a change of scenery from working in their apartments, but with the pandemic, there's no telling if those spaces will be open. My girl seems happy, though. Her spirit reads very much as if she feels like this is just another life adventure.



25 comments:

  1. It looks magical there. So happy you two were able to go out for lunch. We have not eaten food prepared by other people since March.
    All good thoughts for working remotely and the MBA.

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    1. Allison, it was slightly nerve wracking, not gonna lie, but the breeze was moving nicely and we were socially distanced, so I hope we were okay.

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  2. I just wrote a long comment and whoosh- it was gone. Basically what I said is that as wonderful as your daughter’s plans sound, I know this must be hard for you. I hope that you and your dear man will be able to take little trips to see her- loving adventures like We had when Jessie lived in Asheville. And also I have a feeling that more work will be coming your way soon. The gods of writing have your number on speed dial.

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    1. Mary, I am in denial still, thinking she will come and visit often, especially once her office reopens and she has to come in once a month. I wonder what's up with blogger, lots of complaints about the new system, bugs still to be worked out I suppose.

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  3. Two beautiful women. We have the same outdoor eating areas now. One lane on Whyte Avenue was closed for a couple of blocks to set up seating areas for people, to encourage people to come back I guess. Seems to have worked.

    This COVID time is a good time for young people to find out how compatible they are. It sounds like they're doing well and they're happy.

    You don't know what to do with yourself. Quilting? Knitting? Baking? I'm sure you'll find something to keep yourself busy:)

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    1. Lily, I used to love knitting actually, really meditative. Maybe I'll remind myself how to do it!

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  4. Lovely photos of 2 beautiful ladies.....I felt I was with you!! Food looks good too.
    One of my sons " locked down" with his girlfriend and they are now engaged !

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    1. Frances, congrats to your son, that is lovely news! A gift of the quarantine for him, too.

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  5. so happy you got out with your girl before the summer ends! the weather has been hot yet gorgeous and my boyfriend and i have been taking advantage as well

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    1. Candice, my girl is moving to your home town, to Cambridge, really, but that's Boston, too, right? Nice to see you here. I have been following your sweet summer outings with your bf on insta!

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  6. Two beautiful women enjoying a small adventure! Yay you!

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  7. It is nice when your children are happy, independent people but I do miss having them close. Texting, video chats, phone calls - all that helps. I do get lonesome for them sometimes, tho. Good you got to spend some nice time with your daughter.

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    1. Ellen, nice to see you. I don't think it has hit me yet that she won't be just across the city. But since she seems happy, I'm going with it.

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  8. It is so lovely to see you and your daughter out and enjoying a meal together. These are tough times in so many ways, it's good to find a little respite of joy like this. Your daughter's plans sound perfect.

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    1. robin, i was so worried about her having to find a job in new city in a covid economy so my heart has been greatly eased.

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  9. That looks like a fantastic (and restorative!) outing. And you both ordered the same thing to eat! Different tastes in wine, though. :)

    Seriously, I'm glad you had a chance to get out and enjoy the city you love with the daughter you love. I wouldn't worry too much about how to spend your time -- just enjoy the looser schedule! Life will find a way to fill it, I'm sure. :)

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    1. Steve, it was restorative. And you're so right about life filling the time. It's already happening.

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  10. Your table seems to have been extremely well distanced from anyone else - that is great to see. I do feel sorry for social businesses like restaurants, bars, and touristy spots whose business dried up for so long, and even with re-opening are unable to admit as many folks as normally they would.

    I can't recommend any viewing because all my spare time is spent reading instead. Or jigsaw puzzling. Or tending to cats :) Maybe you need a cat! just kidding

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    1. jenny, my birthday twin, I am a big jigsaw puzzler too!

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  11. What a nice dinner you could share.
    Something tells me that you will find ways to be busy soon enough. Enjoy the break. Take a deep breath and wait for the next lesson to unfold.

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    1. Sabine, wise words, wait for the next lesson. They keep coming, don't they?

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  12. I agree with Jenny jigsaws are great, plus I'm really enjoying doing some diamond drill paintings.

    The lunch out with your daughter looked lovely. I think we are relatively safe eating outside, but I dread to think what things will be like in the winter.

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  13. Sounds like venturing out was a splendid use of some of your free time. As I often do, I looked at the photos of your and your daughter for a long time, absorbing how you much enjoy each other's company. It occurred to me that when you were your daughter's age you may have shared meals like that with your mother. The love continues down the generations and inspires your daughter in her life adventure, just as you were inspired by your mother.

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  14. Venturing out with your girl seems to be one of the sweetest things that a mother and daughter can share. It is made even sweeter of the fact that it was on her bucket list with her mom.
    I will have to ask my girls about their bucket lists but I doubt that I will be in the top ten lol.
    Beautiful photos... Be Ware: These are now stolen so I can make you a digital scrapbook page!
    Big HUGS and stay safe. I am so glad to hear that you are still wearing your masks. xxx

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