What am I missing?

Over the last little while I've heard people talking about how difficult their lives were during the lockdown phase. Things are opening up again, and people are taking advantage. Let's just say that I have a hard time understanding why getting a haircut is such a big deal.

But I was asked how my life changed during the recent 2 months, and they were dumbfounded when I said it hadn't changed much. Being retired and not reliant on outside stimuli is a big part of that. While I don't like shopping, the buying experience at the Calgary Farmer's Market is wonderful, and I like being there. It isn't the same now, and may never be the same again, and I understand that, but it's too bad. It was a great place to hang out and have a coffee and treat and people watch. People watching is great mental exercise for writers and photographers. Other groceries is just checking items off a list, and it's a bit more difficult now.

The pool, though. I really miss the pool. I'd been swimming regularly before the trip, and went out of my way to swim several times in New Zealand. The year before I'd gone 2 months without swimming and my arms had essentially forgotten how when I got back. It took most of 2019 to get it back again, and I was determined not to lose it.

Well shit. It's been 2.5 months or so since I swam with Katie in Auckland. By the time we got home the pools were closed, and it's looking like another month till they open, at least. Even then, I've heard rumours they may make us book a swim time. I can just imagine what a shambles my swim will be.

Yes, I know, I could drive out to Quarry Lake in Canmore, dodge the ice floes and wildlife, and struggle into my wetsuit for a swim. I could do this. But do I really want to spend about 3 hours in the car, plus the time to suit up, and get it off again, for what is likely to be a short cold swim? Let me put it this way. I haven't done it yet and I don't think I'm terribly likely to.

The library. Yes, I know I could browse the internet and order any book I want, and it will arrive a few days later. But then once I read it, it adds to the clutter in the basement. I'm running out of book shelves. Plus some of the books I want to read are really expensive picture books. I haven't done the e-reader loan thingie. At first I thought it was a great idea, then I read the procedure and thought WTF?! That seems way too complicated. Why would you need to meter the number of copies a digital thing gets loaned? Maybe it's all better now, I haven't looked.

In any case, the e-browsing experience isn't the same as going to the library. It's fun working your way down a row of books within a subject organized by Dewey Numbers, and seeing the different titles. Pick one off the shelf, wave your free card and the book at a scanner, and it's yours for several weeks. I like seeing books chosen by professional librarians showing up in the new books section. I'm not interested in many of them, but that's ok. One winner makes up for them all. It's all part of the book ecosystem. No, I have not the slightest worry about picking up the virus from a book.

It isn't just books. We like getting movies or TV shows as well. It's an easy way to find out if you'll like something or take a trip down memory lane. The only downside is that sometimes the discs look like they've been covered in peanut butter, chewed by a dog, then cleaned with sandpaper. It's amazing they can still play.

Being in the library (usually the Fish Creek branch) connects me with the literary history of the world. Libraries have been part of civilization since we invented it. They are one of the signs of a civilized society. Imagine that, a building full of books, and they let you read them. All kinds of books, on any topic under the sun. Usually for free or such a nominal fee that anyone can pay.

Libraries are important. I'm a bit nervous about what restrictions will be on them for opening. I'd hate to think there will be a security guard with a counter limiting access to some number of people. After all, it's not like groceries where you go in, shop, pay, leave. Some people the library is their lifeline. They go and are there most of the day. It's a safe warm place where they can sit and read. People use the computers to create and send resumes. People study to pass the course to get a certification to get a better job. They help their children find books to keep them entertained. And yet we need to consider the virus. I'm glad I'm not making the decisions about reopening.

Meeting a buddy for coffee/lunch/beer isn't going to be the same. There's a bunch of places that are nice to go and chat, busy but not crowded. I walked past one of my favourites yesterday (the Patisserie in Woodbine mall). Most of the tables are removed, and the rest spaced out. I'm having trouble thinking they'll be able to stay in business. Lots of times it used to be full or nearly so. Unless people are a whole lot more willing than I think to make a booking and maybe spread out their eating times, many restaurants are going to close.

In lighter news, here's what the garden looked like overall from Wednesday afternoon.

Inside the front patio, looking one way.

Looking the other.

The view from the front sidewalk.

These are the white peonies reaching for the sky.

From the side sidewalk.

The back yard. What's there are some of the bedding out plants Linda got. She wants to hold off another day putting them into the ground. We had a hard frost last night, and we could get frost tonight again. It's easier to put potted plants in the garage, rather than having to cover individual plants in the ground.

And no, I don't know why those photos behave differently when embiggened than the ones following. They were exported from Lightroom the same as all my others, and added to the blog the same as others. Just lately the adding photos process has become more difficult. My usual browser, Safari, does not let me add photos to the blog. Firefox does, but the writing experience sucks.

Of the Day
Michelle

Curtis
He wants out so badly, and doesn't understand what a dangerous place the world is.

Flower

Driftwood