All the Things I Miss

I've been trying to stay upbeat during the pandemic in part because... well, what's the use in moping? (God, I sound like my grandmother.) That said, as this thing drags out & drags on, I'm starting to dread the approach of colder weather – because with it comes our return to isolation, without the option of outdoor hangs.

I've been thinking about all the things I miss most, & I'm keeping a little list, just because I find that it makes me feel a little bit better to have it all written down. I thought I'd share it with you here – & if you're inclined to share, I'd love to hear what you're pining for, too.

I miss riding in the studio. 

I miss the energy & atmosphere of walking into Harness Cycle, of pushing myself to the max in the dark, surrounded by fellow riders, with my favorite instructors on stage at the front of the room. I miss the feeling of cold air hitting my sweaty face when I walk to my car, victorious. 

I miss getting together with friends on a whim.

I miss texting friends & deciding we should get together, no advance planning or face masks or social distancing necessary. I miss being able to stop by a friend's house or meet up for a quick drink or grab happy hour appetizers whenever the heck we want. Indoors & worry-free.

I miss working from coffee shops.

I miss stopping in to Civilization to grab a latte & catching up with the baristas & catching up with the old-timers at the front table. I miss settling in at the back table & working for hours, a change of scenery that separates work from home.

I miss shopping. 

I miss absentmindedly browsing the aisles at the Steelyard Target & chatting with my pharmacists while I'm there, loading up my cart with whatever catches my eye & then unloading the stuff I shouldn't spend money on don't want right before I check out. (Sorry, Target staff.) I miss popping into Old Navy & Marshall's on the way home, just because.

I miss my mom.

I miss sleeping over at my mom's house, hugging my mom, seeing my mom more often. I miss sitting in my mom's living room watching TV. I miss getting cocktails & half-priced flatbreads from Burntwood Tavern with my mom. I even miss organizing my mom's kitchen on my visits to her place.

I miss planning to to travel. 

I miss figuring out a trip to Philadelphia with Brittany & anticipating my next trip to New York for work. I miss believing that our Honeymoon Israel trip would be rescheduled anytime in the near future. Heck, I miss road trips to visit friend in Pittsburgh & Columbus.

I miss being in large crowds.

I miss hitting the dance floor at weddings & rocking out to live music at concerts, sitting in movie theaters & having parties with friends. I miss eating in crowded restaurants & weaving through the masses at busy street festivals. I even miss standing in long lines.

I miss my city.

Sure, the city's still here, & people are finding a way to reconfigure everyday life so that we can still do some of the things we used to do. But it's not the same. I miss Cleveland's vibrancy, the way it came alive with people. The places we explored & the strangers I chatted with & the entire vibe of this gritty Rust Belt city, out in the open. 

What do you miss? How are you coping these days?