Things I Miss

covid 19 has taken many things from this world—most importantly millions of lives across the globe. it’s taken away some elements of humanity, but it’s also pushed people to exhibit strength, courage, and a sense of community.

though it seems like such a silly thing to post, there are a number of things, both big and small, that i can no longer do because of the state the world is in. some of them i don’t think will return for a long while—like going to lesbian bars, dancing at night clubs with friends, traveling to far away places and long, thoughtful days at local cafes. though it’s important to hold on to the things we love during this strange moment in history, it’s also a time for learning to get comfortable forming new hobbies and habits, if not for your own safety, then the safety of others. not to mention unlearning some of the ways that we used to do things, like perpetual burn out and toxic productivity.

but a gal can dream, right? And reminisce…

back in the b.c. (Before covid) era, When i would need to write a paper for class during college or work on something with more concentration than usual, i would almost always travel to a new coffee shop and hunker down to claim my space. you’d think that being in your own quiet space would be the most productive, but i actually loved being out and about. I would plug in my headphones and be transported somewhere calm, with jazzy tunes flooding my ears. I was an anonymous face in the crowd, working through whatever task was at hand, sipping a frothy cup of chai in the fall or an iced latte in the summer and munching on local pastries, like buttery halva brownies or olive oil cakes. this is what i miss most about the pre-covid world—being a nameless face in the crowd, meeting other anonymous beings, and cafe hopping like my life depended on it.

i used to scour google maps after using the coffee button to prompt all the local cafes in the area to appear on the page. i’d zoom in on the locations, browse photos of the space, check out the menu, and read reviews on the ambiance. If it peaked my interest, it was added to the never ending list of saved cafes and bakeries that i’d intend on visiting, even going so far as to creating a ‘want to go’ list through the app.

so, i decided that this hobby will be a permanent segment on my site—a covid-safe cafe hopping experience if you will. Though it is typically take out, or an outdoor seating situation, i’m going to bring you on my socially-distant trips to see all that there is in the local coffee scene in nyc—and hopefully eventually beyond. i’m thinking of calling it “the cafe chronicle.” I think it’s got a nice ring to it. i’ll share what i learn about the space and it’s history, their food/beverage offerings, the service, and the ambiance. I’m hoping that this will help to fill the little mug-shaped void in my heart until some semblance of normalcy returns. Until then, let’s pour one out for the latte-lovers.

xx Delia