So…what does it really mean to loosen restrictions? And how many ways can someone interpret this?
Turns out that there is a scale of perception regarding the loosening restrictions in NJ. Next week the beaches and lakes will be open….with new restrictions of course. The parks are open again, and non-essential businesses will be open for curbside pick-up.
We are supposed to stay at home and only go out for “the essentials” until June 5th. There is still the suggested curfew to be off the roads from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless you are an essential worker.
But pictures of people flooding the Point Pleasant Beach board walk, with masks and bathing suits were front and center of the news. Some parks had to be closed early because they reached fifty percent capacity quickly.
Yet, this weekend you could feel the change in the air. There was traffic on the main roads by my home and some acted like they had never driven before. I needed to take two trips to Home Depot, and while everyone wore masks, not everyone practiced social distancing. The store was the busiest I have seen it in months. And I admit, that I was uncomfortable. I couldn’t wait to bathe in hand sanitizer once I got in my car.
And we had a friend over, the first since February, to help celebrate our birthdays. We sat outside and had a fire, chatting about our views of the pandemic, what we have been doing to keep our mind off of things, and who we have lost to Covid.
We weren’t the only ones with gatherings. Neighbors we haven’t seen in months had a family dinner. Across the street, the family had two gatherings. Then behind us there was an extended family gathering.
Things feel different.
Not sure what that means, if anything. But I would be naive if I thought things would go back to “normal”.
Namaste
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