Day 71 of our Covid19 Journey: It’s getting more acceptable to go out, but what do you find when you go out?

In BC, the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries resumed service today. I don’t know how many people were on them, but they’re running like little ducks in a choppy pond.

Here in Langley, the BC government put a cap on the number of cars that could go to a drive-in. I hadn’t thought about seeing a movie that way. Gosh, it’s been YEARS since I saw a drive-in movie, and then it was largely a way to make-out that didn’t get you almost arrested by the cops – long story – but maybe it’s something to look into. (The movie, not the making out…. Although…)

Before I get to my day, however, I need to pass along more good news. The-Oldest won yet another scholarship! He now has his entire first two years of college paid for and a good chunk of the next two years, depending on where he goes (I hear Mars is pretty pricy.)

However, me, I had to make a trip to Richmond to visit my bank. Like the pre-Covid days, traffic was heavy. Lots of trucks. Lots of cars. Didn’t see a lot of buses, but I wasn’t exactly taking a bus route.

The bank was open from 10-3 and now had heavy plastic from counter to ceiling, in addition to the plexiglass protective barriers. Staff all wore masks. In fact, the only person I saw in Richmond not wearing a mask was some weirdo brushing his teeth in front of the bank window and spitting out goop onto the sidewalk. Masks seem to be the thing to do.

I had masked-up, of course, but I have a huge challenge wearing them. When I breathe, which I like to do, I fog up my glasses. So, I fiddle, and I shift, and I readjust the mask as best I can, but as soon as I find a perfect fit, I have to talk, and the mask is shifted, again, and I go all foggy.

It’s something I’ll need to work on. I may use a snorkel.

But in Richmond, and indeed in most of Langley, a lot of businesses had reopened. Yesterday, The-Prettiest-Girl-in-the-World managed to get her hair cut and coloured. She couldn’t have been happier if I’d bought her a life-sized chocolate statue of Jason Momoa. I suspect a lot of women feel that way.

Me? I don’t need my hair cut for a bit. I look awesome with longer hair. Older, maybe, but still awesome, dammit. Plus, I get to wear my old-guy hat (which I secretly love), so I may never get my hair cut. Full Dothraki, here I come!

Honestly, though, life seemed a lot more normal. Is this everyone’s experience? Or am I just used to all the un-normal stuff like standing on an X on the floor while waiting for a cashier, not using any cash since it might be contaminated by viruses and greed, or getting insanely excited when I find masks for sale?

I dunno, but I do know I saw more people in parks, I saw pictures of kids having birthday parties, and there’s even talk of the NFL coming back (I think they’re going to make it a dance-off or something.) Still, I can’t help wondering what will happen in the next few months. Will The-Prettiest-Girl-in-the-World get her job back? Will too many businesses fail and drive our economy into a depression? Will I ever be able to leap up in a dark theater and shout, hey, see that fat guy running past the car, that’s me?

I guess tomorrow will bring what tomorrow will bring, and despite my strong desire to control the world (indeed the universe), I have to learn that, like agent Coleson in the Avengers, I don’t have any power at all.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy, and respect the new world.