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Writer's pictureMarilyn Saltzman

M&Ms in the time of COVID

When I worked for Jeffco Schools, our assistant Jean kept a decorative jar, stocked daily with M&Ms for all to share, on her desk. Whenever I got stressed, I’d go over to her desk and help myself. (I figured out that the little chocolates were only three calories each. Of course, after dipping into the jar a dozen times or more, the calories started adding up.)


I never thought twice about putting my hand in a jar shared by our office mates and others in the building who stopped by for their M&M fix.


That was decades before COVID.


Last Saturday at our writers’ group meeting, Cecelia pulled out a large bag of M&Ms and offered them to us. We were all masked and socially distanced at an outdoor picnic area. Hmm, I thought, do I want to reach in and grab the candies others may have touched? Probably not.


When the bag got to me, I found that it contained individually wrapped packets of M&Ms. Satisfied it was safe, I grabbed one. It made me think about the myriad of small and large ways that COVID has changed our everyday lives. There are things that I will not miss after this is all over, and some I will; things I look forward to doing again and others I may choose never to do again.


I won’t miss:

· Doing an avoidance dance down the supermarket aisles

· Washing all my groceries, including bags and boxes, when I get home

· Peering into the lobby at the post office to make sure there are only two people inside

· Using hand sanitizer before, during and after excursions

· Wearing a mask

· Isolating from others


I will miss:

· Spending more time at home and less in the car

· Having space to read, hike and play

· Calling friends just to chat

· Practicing BEING rather than DOING

I look forward to once again being able to:

· Hug friends

· Go out to lunch

· Invite people over for dinner

· Attend classes and services at Beth Evergreen

· Have in-person rather than ZOOM meetings

· Spend time at the gym and the pool

· Travel nationally and internationally


I may never again choose to:

· Eat a piece of birthday cake after someone blew out candles on it

· Go to a restaurant buffet

· Grab chips from a bowl at a large party

· Shake hands with a stranger


I hope when life returns to “normal” I can keep some of my new, healthy habits; discard some old ones that don’t serve me; and most of all, appreciate the good things in everyday life. Like M&Ms, in moderation of course, whether in bulk or individually wrapped.

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1 Comment


salmirall
Sep 20, 2020

M&Ms in the time of Covid is a keeper. Many of the lists resonate with me. Some new practices to incorporate, some to discard. It has been quite enjoyable to meet friends at parks and have conversations without the interruptions of servers or the pressure to hurry up as others are waiting for tables.

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