20 Jun 2020

​​​​​​Sometimes I wonder if this has all just been a frazzling fever dream. Maybe I just watched one too many apocalyptic movies, spurring a nightmare of pandemics, panic and paper... toilet paper... sorry, I was vibing with that alliteration. 

I wonder if I'll wake up, it'll be January and my mindset of '2020 is gonna be my year!' will actually be feasible. School, work, travelling, concerts, restaurants, hugs... it'll all be back to normal.

But alas, I keep pinching myself and I can feel it every time. This is real life and man is it a drag. 

But hey! You don't fully appreciate what you have until it's taken away. So here are the things I will appreciate all the more when 'normal' is a word back in my vocabulary. Here are the things I miss from the good ol' days, pre-corona! 

1. Full cinemas

To me, watching a movie cooped up in my room, neck cramping from looking down at my laptop screen and not having anyone to hit when the plot thickens is not a vibe. Sure, it does the trick sometimes, but the whole cinema experience heightens the whole movie for me. I love hearing collective gasps, cackles and sobs from a crowd and then leaving the cinema, theorising with friends or strangers. 

2. Lining up for a packed club

You're in the line, repeating to yourself: "I've only had two drinks. I've only had two drinks" and trying to look as sober as possible even though you had way too much fun at pres. You're making friends with the group in front of you or seeing that barista at your fave cafe and yelling "Hey man, you make killer coffees!". You're listening to the music pumping inside and just vibing with the atmosphere, g'ing you up for a good night out.

3. Walking more than 100 steps a day

I miss not having my only steps in a day being from my bed to the lounge room, sometimes to the bathroom and kitchen, and then back to my bed. 

4. Live music

Being the groupie that I am, I confess that my will to live without live music has dropped catastrophically. 

I miss basically getting tinnitus because I stood too close to the amps and getting multiple blisters on my feet from boogieing too hard. Whether it's at a small venue, a packed stadium or a festival, live music is of the gods, and I can't wait to get amongst it again.

5. Driving around with no plans

Past me didn't know that the world was her oyster whilst she drove around with mates, windows down and music blasting. She could have gone for a bite to eat. To a used book store. To a funky art gallery. To a secluded beach. To some markets...

I loved driving around with no plans but all the potential in the world.

6. School

As an extrovert, studying from home eliminates the best parts of uni. Being in an actual classroom with actual people. Studying in the library with your mates and mucking around between lectures. Events, clubs, parties... Music to my ears.

7. Travelling overseas

I miss that feeling of hopping off a 14-hour flight, dazed and fatigued. Then, adrenaline kicking in as I realise I'm halfway across the bloody globe! Look at those temples! Or those beaches! Or those buildings! I've made it!!!

8. Full schedules

Sure, pre-corona, you'd regularly hear me complaining about never having a spare second to breathe from all the commitments I'd pile on my plate. But now I'd do anything to get back to waking up with a purpose! Knowing I was expected to be somewhere, to do something, to see someone. Sitting around inside all day is pretty unfulfilling, to say the least.

9. Public transport

Maybe I'm a freak for saying this but I love public transport. Sitting on the train for a few hours, completely vibing out by myself, looking out at the changing scenery in the window, listening to dramatic music and pretending my life is a movie... Bless that.

10. Spontaneous visits to friends or fam

Remember the days where you could rock up to your mate's house with no notice? You could nick some food, swim in their pool, catch up with their 'rents and make yourself at home. Or when you'd surprise your fam with a cheeky visit, maybe bringing some cupcakes you made that look inedible but they'd have anyway because they love you. Ah... the days of socialising IRL. Weren't they a dream.

11. Work… god forbid

I mean, there are a thousand things about my customer service job that I'd happily leave behind. But you know those classic chats with customers or those free therapy sessions with your co-workers? Bless.

12. Meals out

Food is obviously the bomb@hotmail.com. Eating food out is even better. Whether it's a gnarly meal, good company or groovy vibes, I miss wining and dining out, most likely at a Mexican food joint. My homemade burritos are just no match.

13. Not having corona brought up in a convo every second

I lust for the days when you could have a normal conversation without corona popping up every minute as if to scream "I'M STILL HERE B*TCHES!!" and bringing the vibes right down. I lust for a future where that's corona is but a gross memory and we can all move forward, hugging each other more, seeing live music more, eating out more, enjoying school and work more... you get the gist.