I Miss the Annoying Normal
A listserve I’m on sent out a note with this subject line: I don’t know you, but I miss you.
The writer explains: “I’ve personally never been one to talk to strangers much, but I find myself missing the presence of other people—just generally—more than I could have imagined. I don’t know you, but I miss you.”
Yes.
I used to be indifferent or even annoyed by the people I encountered while out and about. The people who slowly backed into parking spaces, holding up the line forming in the lot. The people who sat in the chairs across from the information desk at the library whom I barely noticed were there.
I’m not a big people person. I usually only miss people I know. But today, I’m just missing the general concept of people. Of being able to duck into the library or grocery store and have a two second exchange with another person, even if it’s just apologizing for bumping into them as we pass each other in an aisle.
What do you miss?
7 comments
The library! It’s my social event every week.
The Humane Society – we walk dogs there most weekends. Now, I get no dog interaction.
Other than that, life is pretty much the same for me.
I hear you and feel what you are sharing is so right for me too. Praying and hoping for better times for all of us. Take care, Mel!
I miss so much! I miss being able to go to my office and work (quietly and without interruption) every day. I miss (most of) my co-workers. I miss parts of my job that can’t happen, or can’t happen the same way, with the current restrictions in place. (Court hearings, depositions, client meetings.)
I miss being able to go out and eat dinner in a restaurant. I miss meeting up with my friends. I miss my monthly book club meeting (well, I’ve only missed one meeting so far). I miss my in-laws, who we haven’t seen in at least 3 weeks. I miss being able to see a movie in the theaters.
Yes, so much! I don’t mind having quiet time, but my mind is so freaking busy that it’s never really all that quiet. 🙁 I miss the hustle and bustle of school, of making corny jokes that really only make me laugh, of running into people at the grocery store. My calendar still has appointments in it so I’m painfully aware of times I would normally have been getting a massage, or a haircut, or going to book club. It was real sunny and warm here the other day, and we went for a walk and there were SO MANY PEOPLE out and about, but it was like we all forgot how to be people around others. Some people were super friendly across the street, and others refused to even wave. Weird. Every once in a while we hop in the car to pick up takeout or just see that the world is still in existence outside our tiny corner of it, and it makes me feel less isolated to know that we aren’t actually in a zombie apocalypse. But it sure feels like it.
I’m with you on this. Like you, I have a few people I connect with and choose to be with. I miss them. But I also am surprised to find that I miss people in general, just how you described them.
Interesting phenomenon.
I miss my yoga class. Sure, I can do the poses online, but I miss doing it with people.
I miss not being able to choose the things (and wine) I want at the supermarket – my husband is our designated shopper, because he also shops for his father. I miss the faces I know so well at the checkout. And the Chinese lady at the coffee shop who always knows my order.
I miss just going out for coffee, or lunch. And I’m only 8 days in to our lockdown! And we don’t have “takeout” or takeaways, as we call them. Nor food deliveries other than from supermarkets, and even then we’re told not to request deliveries if we are under 65 and healthy, but to leave the delivery slots to those who really need them.
I agree with almost all of the above, and started writing my own list, but it started getting long. I think I’ll turn it into a blog post of my own. 😉