Bill returned early yesterday from his Monday boxing class. Turns out the class was cancelled, but no one had told the boxers early enough to prevent them from showing up. That was fine, because no one really wants to box a few days after Boxing Day.

So, instead, we putzed around a bit, and then headed out of the house to find something good to eat for lunch. After some discussion, we ended up at Culver’s, mostly because it was close to Bill’s favorite store, Home Depot. Following lunch on Culver’s patio, we walked into Home Depot and stopped dead in our tracks. The store was packed. Lots of folks out and about. All were wearing masks and socially distancing, but apparently they were either eager to get started on home improvement projects or they were simply sick to death of looking at each other and their own four walls and wanted a break. Methinks it was the latter.

For the most part, we have all been good about COVID. There are a few flies in the ointment, but most mind their Ps and Qs. But let’s face it; we are all sick to death of doing nothing. That realization made me start thinking of any good that has come out of this endless quarantine.

Remember 75 years ago when this started? While we were all scared to death, there was something kind of cozy about staying home with your loved ones. People started playing games and cooking dinner and putting together puzzles. Families took walks together and rode bicycles throughout their communities just to get out of the house. Celebrities tried to keep us entertained. Churches tried to keep us spiritually intact. It was all new and different, and somewhat enticing.

Until it wasn’t anymore.

Families started getting sick to death of one another. “I just need to look at another face besides my spouse and kids,” said one friend who will remain nameless but speaks for the multitudes. “I don’t want to hear my husband on the phone with his coworkers,” this person went on. “I’m better not knowing what his work style is.”

Kids, at first excited to be able to attend school in their pajamas, now literally yearn for a chance to sit next to their friends at cafeteria. “School’s okay,” said one of my grandkids. “But we don’t do anything fun.”

Because they CAN’T do anything fun. COVID won’t release its ugly grip. And this is no knock to teachers who are heroes, along with medical workers and grocery workers and store cashiers and everyone who keeps our economy running and our families safe. They do the best they can.

But we are all just about done. D-O-N-E. DONE.

Good thing that there is hope on the horizon. I’m not fooling myself into thinking things are going to change quickly. President-Elect Biden claims we will still be wearing masks 100 days into his presidency. I hope he’s wrong but I suspect he’s not. One of the byproducts of COVID might be that we never stop wearing masks. I hope not.

Things will undoubtedly never be quite the same. But a little bit of normalcy, that’s all we hope for right now.