How would the 'Social Butterfly' cope with COVID isolation?

Lawrie - forever 18 

In the quiet of my Canadian apartment I often find myself wondering how my husband, Lawrie, would have reacted to the COVID pandemic that has forever changed our world. As many of you know, he passed away in 2018 and didn't have to cope with the draconian restrictions of this new era of little or no social contact.  I think Lawrie would have found the changes frustrating. 

Lawrie was so sociable he was affectionately nick-named the social butterfly. The family joked that like his mom, he could have a conversation with anyone including dead ants (that's ants not aunts!). He loved hugging and dancing and being around people. These are now forbidden activities or, at the very least, frowned upon in our new world. 

We retired in 2008 to live full-time on Isla Mujeres mainly because we enjoyed the warm, friendly and very welcoming Mexican culture. As retirees in a foreign country we didn't have a lot of responsibilities other than a little house maintenance and a few chores, so we hung out with friends and family. Island life, or more specifically tropical island life suited him perfectly! Sun, sand, shorts, and happy people.

At the Soggy Peso making new friends

Lawrie and I enjoyed spending the majority of our time together but, if he had been forced into isolation for several months with only Sparky and me to talk to, it would have been a an unbearable hardship for him. He loved to visit our favourite restaurants and bars on Isla Mujeres for a tasty meal and a beer or two but more importantly just to chat with other people. To listen to their stories. To get to know them a little better. 

Me, on the other hand, I can be a bit of a hermit at times. And I rarely make phone calls, partly due to the echo of my father's voice nagging at his four daughters and Mom for being on the phone too much. Dad passed away in 1968, but I still can't tune him out. Weird, I know, but every time I think about phoning someone Dad's voice starts nattering in the background about the cost of long distance calls. Thanks Dad, for that little anti-social oddity in my character. 

Mature-teenagers at the Soggy Peso on Isla

Then, with the COVID pandemic, there is the mask issue. Lawrie had a beard, well-groomed, but a beard. Wearing a mask in a hot and humid climate would have been a nightmare for him. I can hear him grousing now. I'm sure I would have had to invest in earplugs for me and perhaps for Sparky. But, Lawrie being Lawrie, would have found an upbeat way to manage the situation. He didn't have many unhappy days in his life.

In March of 2020, I returned to Canada because I wanted to be in a country where I spoke the language, knew how to get medical assistance, and would be closer to my family. Due to the COVID safety protocols I typically only see my friends about once every two weeks. Sometimes it is for dinner out, or a cup of coffee, or a visit to one of the local wineries. 

Writing my new mystery novel, sorting my collection of digital photos, or promoting my mystery novels on social media keeps me busy and feeling productive. Most days I walk Sparky four times a day, except for the two days recently when he had intestinal troubles and need to go out - now - every 90 minutes. It was a sleepless two nights but I finally got his digestive system settled down again and we are back on our regular schedule. 

It's interesting the different ways people cope with isolation and seclusion. Some of my friends have become super productive creating a pile of artistic work to combat the boredom. One of my writer friends has produced three or perhaps four novels since March 2020. He's a writing machine. Other friends keep busy with handcrafts, or learn new skills. Some create food masterpieces and share them with neighbours, like me. I happily oblige and eat their delicious offerings. Some have lost weight, others have found the lost weight. We all know fat cells have GPS, returning time and again to the same owner. The balance of weight lost and weight gained helps maintain earth's place in the solar system. It must be true. I read it on FaceBook.

Living in a country with a decent road system and being the happy owner of a proper car instead of a funky little golf cart, Sparky and I have been taking road trips to visit old friends, my step-son and his family, and my sister and her family. However, since the weather has changed and winter has arrived - a month early - my road trips will be curtailed for a few months. Planning short road trips for 2021 will give me something to look forward to. In the meantime Sparky has discovered snow! He thinks it is very entertaining.

For some the isolation is tedious. For others it's manageable. How about you? What do you do to cope with the boredom, and seclusion?

Cheers

Lynda and The Sparkinator

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