The Start of a Revised Normal?

I live in the province of Québec, and as everyone knows, we've had the most Covid-19 cases, so this comes with the most rigorous lockdown measures. Our premier has tried to be both empathetic and realistic towards a fractured health care system and a population that loves to be together.

Lockdowns have been an extended test of endurance for someone who once lived in downtown Vancouver's busiest retail corner. This person would, perhaps with a friend stepped out at 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday night (sorry, I know it's irreverent) and pick up on sales – yes, they did those kinds of markdowns late on the 7th day.

Yesterday, Québec opened retail, and because hair salons are scrambling to return calls (another green light service) but not back to me, I went to the mall. Yes, I'm a local supporter of the independents, but some of my favorite ones are not open yet.

The big outing was a flatliner. Was it the mask I was wearing?  I should have invited a friend – but not sure I'm supposed to do this. Maybe I was homesick to return to something other than the present, but if I think getting back to normal is a trip to the mall; I’m headed in the wrong direction. I might have felt better going for my daily winter walk along the Parliamentary Trail—to imagine a revised normal. But the libraries have re-opened so today’s venture was a linger, yes linger as I long as I was home by the 8:00 curfew. So I sat in the sun and held some books. There are some normalities I can’t revise, but the library was brand new.