april.
I’m sure you remember
As I too remember
How simple things were
Back in December.
It’s been a month since I’ve started my isolation due to Voldemort and honestly, over the last few weeks it has become much easier to accept it and I’ve become much less anxious when compared to the first week/10 days. I can’t quite tell why it’s easier but I’m okay with staying home forever now.
With that said, I still miss normal life once in a while. In fact, I miss the most stupid, random things that I used to do.
I miss going to Starbucks to get some work done in the afternoon; going to BragaParque for some window shopping or visit Fnac just to see what’s new — although most of the times there was nothing new because I went there several times a week.
I miss going to the cinema and I miss eating KFC on Sundays — yes, I know I can order from Uber Eats but it’s not the same thing. And of course, I miss going out with my friends to drink Mojitos and Ginger Ales and catch up on what’s been going on with their lives.
To avoid feeling nostalgic and sad, I’ve been making mental lists of things I want to do when this is over. This is what I have so far:
- eat a huge steak at Miranda- Sabores do Barroso;
- go to Brígida do eat a coffee éclair;
- eat an entire Francesinha at Real Taberna;
- go vinyl shopping with Luis and complain if (or when) he buys anything;
- go to Panda Cantina in Lisbon with my sister and ask for level 2 beef ramen;
- drink Mojitos with Alex and Filipa at Mal Amado;
- go to Zara, buy something without trying it on and proceeding to return it the next day because I look like a potato;
- drink a Ginger Ale with Cati anywhere — usually Mal Amado;
- go to Michizaki to eat some ebi shumai, takoyakis, sushi and ask two desserts for myself.
(yup, most of them revolve around eating my feelings)
Another great thing about this period, is just how much I’ve learned about others.
For example, before this started, I thought I had around 3 doctors in my close circle and about 5 or 6 others that I’m acquainted with. However I’ve come to realize that I have dozens and dozens of doctors, specialists and overall geniuses on my social media feed. So many of them have brilliant solutions to fight Voldemort and know so much more about it than the Government and the specialists! I was super impressed!
Also, before this I thought I only had one friend who used to make his own bread at home. Now, everyone is a baker! And how many remote-work or remote-school specialists do I know? So many! Not to mention all the fitness gurus, healthy cooks and life coaches I’ve discovered just scrolling through Instagram, Facebook or even LinkedIn.
Basically, this quarantine has really been an eye-opener regarding how unhelpful I am. I’ve spend my first days either stress eating, stress crying, stress sleeping or simply stressing out; and right now I don’t stress that much but rather just work, think about mojitos and the food I’ll eat once restaurants open.
And what are others doing? Learning all about medicine, management, education, problem solving, how to stop world hunger, poverty, aliens, doing exercise, eating well, keeping healthy habits and making the world a better place.
I promise I’ll try my best to keep up and be better. I can’t wait for May.
