Survived Toronto’s first released-from-lockdown weekend patio pandemonium 🙂 The flood surge of eager patrons started at 8 a.m. or perhaps earlier, as there were folks already sipping coffees on patios when I out for my early Saturday morning walk. Or maybe they were on their way home after a night of dining under the stars.
To be honest I was never a big patio fan: usually they aren’t shady enough for me, plus duelling with wasps puts me off, nor am I one for dining out anyway, but it’s nice to have the choice not to. The pandemic did encourage us to order in a bit more frequently – from some of the neighbourhood spots – ones that we’d probably never dine in at anyway. A rotation between pizza or gyros or General Tso or ribs – Thursdays every other week. We order for two but they all deliver enough for for four. Some of them don’t quite get it when you say no condiments or no cutlery.
People in the zoom meetings I get to are eager for things to get back to normal. It strikes me that full impact of the pandemic hasn’t fully sunk in for many. Many places: i.e. churches, community centres where recovery meeting usual took place can’t afford the the high quality air-circulating systems – hell some of them couldn’t even afford to repair broken windows.
I suspect masks will always be with us on public transit, when shopping, going to concerts etc. Stratford is struggling to launch a season but with indoor #s strictly reduced I can’t see them doing a big production for an audience of under 100 people, even masked. Streaming doesn’t replace live. After decades of designing theatres to maximize seating they have make changes to allow for air circulation. Just think seating for people with legs 🙂
With non-essential stores finally open, I can buy some new shoes – one of few things I’m unwilling to buy online. I’m not rushing out even though I long to to refresh my browsing skills – one thing I have missed is the the opportunity to stroll through a store looking – I’ve felt obliged to get what I want & get out of there. No impulse shopping for me 😦
Of course if the covid #s soar up like they did the last time the lockdown loosened up we’ll be back to getting coffee in the mail.
Normal Life
I walk down the street
for a cup of coffee
travel mug in hand
to help save the planet
by not using the disposable cup
I wonder
if my washing the mug when I get home
counter balances
that ecological saving
maybe if I washed it less
<>
we are such a clean culture
it’s no wonder
that we need so much protection
from the sun
when we wash
all those oils out of our skin
at every opportunity
putting on moisturizers
to give us a glow
that doesn’t look like we’re wearing anything
<>
walk from here to there
so as not to add to the wasteful car pollution
avoid the subway
too dirty
all those hands feet asses
rub and smear the seats
hand rails
floors sticky with split coffee
I hope that’s all it is
need a hazmat suit
to get out of the house for a walk
nod to others in their suits
actually never nod to others
avoid any sort of eye contact
you never know
who will take what the wrong way
scurry past as fast as you can
<>
one has to walk in the gutter
just to get by that bitch
with a baby carriage
stopped to stoop & talk
to her pals over a coffee
they gets pissy
when you try to walk by
push the carriage our of the way
or risk getting hit by a car
to get by
is the cafe owner liable
for creating this hazard
where pedestrians can’t get by
thanks to a fucking patio
<>
finally I get my coffee
two sips and I‘m fine
my what a sweet child
a cry like that is sure sign
of a future in opera
TOpoet 