I Miss the Little Things COVID Took Away

It has been said that we do not appreciate something or someone until it is no longer in our lives. As trite or cliché as it sounds, it is the truth. When the coronavirus took over last March, the little things that I took for granted disappeared. It is those little things that I miss.

Though I don’t miss the commute, the alarm going off at five o clock in the morning, and the potential crowd on the train, I miss seeing my colleagues in person. I am completely aware that in a professional and financial sense, I am among the lucky ones. I can work from home, still earning my full salary and benefits. There are many people across this country who cannot say the same.

Most Fridays after a long week, I would have gone straight home. But there were some days that I got together with friends. As much as I appreciate what Zoom has to offer, it is not the same as being together in person. I miss seeing my friends. I miss the social opportunities that the virus took away. Living in New York City, the list of opportunities to have new experiences is nearly endless. Whether it’s going to see a play, trying a new restaurant, or spending a rainy afternoon in a museum, one can never say that they have nothing to do. Even going to a  movie theater was something to look forward to.  While I appreciate the content that the streaming services have to offer, I miss the communal aspect of going to a theater to see a film.

Last weekend was Passover. For the second year in a row, we had a Zoom Seder. For most of my life (with the exception of 2020 and 2021), my parents would open the door to family and friends. The card table would have been pulled out to accommodate our guests.  My mother, my sister, and I would spend days in the kitchen, making enough food to feed a small army. Though the meals and the tradition were unchanged, there was something missing. I missed the conversations that would have happened, had we all physically been in the same room. My father made a comment last year that rang true this year. My late grandfather (his father) would have been vocal in his disapproval of the changes that were necessary to accommodate our present circumstances.

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to attend the annual JASNA AGM (Jane Austen Society of North America Annual General Meeting). Held in a different city every year, nearly 1000 participants travel from all over the country and all over the world to spend three days talking about Jane Austen and her work. Among some of my friends, the AGM has become an annual ritual which is often one of the highlights of the year. A cross between an academic conference and Comic-Con, it was supposed to be held in Cleveland last year.  But like everything that would have happened in person, it was held online. I missed the opportunity to get out of the city for a few days, spend time with my friends, and completely immersing myself in everything Austen.

At some point, COVID-19 will be a thing of the past. We will be able to travel, hug our loved ones, and experience all that life has to offer. Until then, I can only appreciate what I have and hope for better days somewhere down the line.

Adina Bernstein is a New York City born and bred writer, who like many writers, has a day job to pay the bills. She has been published in MovieBabble.com, How to be a Redhead, and The Mighty, among other publications. She can be found on Twitter and Instagram at Writergurlny. You can read more of her work on her blog https://writergurlny.wordpress.com/ and on her portfolio https://adinabernstein.contently.com/.