I would like to wish my son, Cameron, a happy birthday. His birthday is this Wednesday, the 29th. He is my best bud. Ever since he came into my life at 3:59 AM that memorable morning, he has always been there for me.
Summer is moving along so quickly, compared to the previous six months. January felt like it was eighty days and March…. well, we won’t even go there.
Life is starting to return to normal a little bit. More stores are opening again but it just feels different. Like today I went for my annual trip to buy sneakers. I noticed there were none of those weapons that you can measure your feet with.
The same thing with golf courses, there are no rakes in the sand traps. Are we that paranoid?
Plus, does it make any sense that you have to wear a mask into an outdoor eating area but as soon as you sit down you can take your mask off? Fuckin weird doing that. But this is the world we live in today.
Shopping just isn’t the same anymore. It’s weird seeing everyone with masks on. One positive for me is that I can’t hear well, so I don’t feel guilty saying “what?” “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you”. It’s the little things.
I wear a mask everywhere in public, and I still for some reason give that completely fake smile and a little head nudge when passing people in the store and on the street. I keep saying to myself, what the fuck are you doing? They can’t see your smile behind your mask… But they also can’t see when I mouth the words fucking asshole as I pass them.
The other day we were shopping for Cameron’s birthday at this charming toy store on Greenwich Ave. We’re trying to shop more locally these days. But anyway. It’s 100 degrees outside. I have a cloth mask on. And this fuckin store is playing “It’s a small world” over and over. I’m sweating and I feel like I’m on acid. My wife is chatting with some other mom. I’m completely agitated and wanted to do something to irritate my wife. It was the first time I felt normal in six months…
My children went back to Camp and daycare. So the house is quiet again. Most days it’s just Lorelei and I. We kind of go about our days. I started thinking, is this what retirement is like? I mean we chat about small things. Most days we have lunch together. Shit, the other day I cooked dinner at 3:30!!! Lorelei asked what the fuck I was doing.
I’m not sure how I feel about my son returning to school. This has become a major news story in this country. I have one son in daycare (parents are not allowed in the building and they bring your child to the car and pick he/she up. Plus there are like four kids in his class). Cameron is in day camp and they do not let parents on site. This is very tricky. I feel bad for the high school students that cannot participate in sports or other activities. Plus all the graduations that Donna Martin was not allowed to participate in.
Things are not back to the way they used to be. That won’t happen for another year or so. I will not be attending a Yankees game this season for the first time is probably 40 years. I’m a huge sports fan and I can’t see that returning to normal for a long time. What about movies? When, if ever will that return to normal? Concerts? People want entertainment. Plus, when can shows start filming again? I’m running out of shit to watch here…
Enjoy the rest of the summer people. Beware of the “Karen’s” out there.
The Strange’s are going on two road trips in August. Pray for me.
Native New Yorker, now living in Connecticut. Husband, and father of two amazing boys. Kidney transplant recipient, and a big supporter of organ donation #donatelife. Mortgage banker, but not by choice. In my free time, I enjoy golf, reading (especially presidential biographies), and finding that hole in the wall restaurant that has great food.