Having visitors used to a big part of living in Florida. Sadly, the last time we had visitors was February 2020.
Until last week. A friend and his partner had been checking up on her mother in Tampa. They were driving back North, and stopped for brunch on the way. We were all vaccinated. Each of us has been quarantined, isolated, and bubble wrapped all this time. We decided to give it a shot.
What fun to chat live with people outside our small Florida family for a change. We cleaned the house! I even cut fresh flowers for the table. Oh yes, I thought. I remember this. Civilization!
After my last post insisting I was a deprived extravert, I found myself struggling with "chit chat" when confronted with friendly, talkative people. I have been living in my own mind for too long, I found it hard to pay attention to what others were saying. I couldn't find the creative well that allows me to banter and jest. Witty repartee? Not when you are no longer quick witted. It will come back, but it may take some practice.
Both Tom and I had to take a nap afterwards.
I am surprised how much has gone by the boards this past year.
I never thought of that. I suppose we will all have to re-learn how to interact with others again.
ReplyDeleteSpot on, Colette. I've become tongue tied in a couple of recent social interactions.
ReplyDeleteInteresting...now I'm wondering how I'll respond as the introvert I am to the weekend meet up we have planned with Roger's daughter and family. We had been planning to meet outside, but it may be raining. Mmmm. All the adults are vaccinated, but the kids are not. We shall see...
ReplyDeleteIt really is odd...interacting with people in a more normal fashion again after this past year. We're all re-learning how to be social, I think.
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see and communicate with others! Slowly but surely. The more that come around the more your wit will reappear!
ReplyDeleteI met up with a few of my friends from high school at Olive Garden yesterday and we had a great time! No problem gabbing, we were so happy to be able to visit. All of us immune now! I was so tired after tho, I just sat and read the rest of the day!
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to have some visitors! I've had the same experience when getting together with friends outside of work -- it's hard to remember how to have a conversation! (Beer helps.)
ReplyDeleteI feel for you. And: How wonderful for you all!!!
ReplyDeleteI meet a few friends, one to one or two to one, all through the last year, outdoors with a distance. We never dare to touch or come close, we all have issues, illnesses and/or people with such issues/illnesses at home, and I am sure the first hug will be weird when it happens.
I am going out with vaccinated friends next week. Now I am wondering what to talk about as all I know is "what I did during the pandemic", and aren't we all bored about talking about that.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the introverts world. Exhausting isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYour inner extrovert just needs to be dusted off a bit. Like riding a bike......
We haven't had visitors for a very long time. And like you, I struggle to make small talk when I do encounter someone I know, because my conversation skills have got so rusty.
ReplyDeleteI do Believe that Social Isolation takes a toll and we become less Socialized. That's what I worry about most with the Children, not being able to Learn Socialization properly anymore until things become Safer for them to go back to some semblance of Normal Human Interactions. Humans are Social Creatures, it is abnormal for us to Isolate, it used to be Recluses were the people who couldn't get along and play well with others, so they opted out of Civilization. Now, all of us are Inmates in our own Homes most of the time, so it's good to try to get back to some Normalized Habits within Safety parameters of coarse.
ReplyDeleteTwo words: preparation practice
ReplyDelete(note to self)
I, an introvert, attended a baby shower and found myself actually talking to people. You, an extrovert, struggling with introversion. What the hell is in those vaccines? : )
ReplyDeleteLet me offer this explanation, it may apply. Chatting with someone where, from time to time, one takes the initiative (ie, launches another subject) is a creative act. It requires imagination and imagination is not something that can be turned on like a tap, it requires constant use. I know this to my cost. In writing a novel one creates scene after scene; to make each scene vivid so that it sticks in the reader's memory one needs to introduce new and unexpected detail - in effect to be unpredictable. Creating new stuff is not easy; by definition if it's new it doesn't exist. In my case old age shrinks imagination, the power to create newness becomes less and less accessible and this state of affairs will never improve.
ReplyDeleteHappily your ability to be "new" as you chat has merely become rusty. It will become brighter with usage. And you'll be bantering along with the best. I'd ask you to pity me but the desire to write novels is a self-inflicted torture and I am entirely to blame for this new agony.
I met a friend at an outdoor restaurant (after we were both fully vaccinated) for the first time since this damned pandemic started. It was so nice to be able to hug and talk in person!
ReplyDelete