Letters to the Editor May
“These are a collection of letters I’ve received in response to this month’s prompt: “What are you looking forward to doing after quarantine?” Thank you to everyone who wrote in! ”
“Post corona I really want to drive around with friends and go out to eat! (taco moro loco, chick fil a, or gas station Indian food from the Shell on highlands) I also want to go to the grocery store!”
Please take me out to eat, Clara. Even if it's gas station Indian food. I’m willing to risk gastrointestinal distress for freedom–it means that much to me.
“When I get out of quarantine, I’m going to get food from the most yummy scrumptious delicious restaurant— maybe Osaka, maybe Chick-Fil-A, Krispy Kreme, Dreamland. I’m going to see my friends, and wear the prettiest loveliest beautifulest clothes I own. When I see my friends, I’m going to hug them and slap their a–. I’m going to go to Publix and when I step out of the dusty white car that hasn’t been used in a decade, I’m going to feel the burning asphalt and jump in front of fast cars, just for some adrenaline, which I haven’t felt in a while. Then I’m going to take off my shoes to feel a dirty tile floor that isn’t my kitchen floor. Then I’ll go to Target, and I’m going to go to the carpeted sections of Target to feel a grimy carpet floor that isn’t my grimy carpet floor. Then, with an elegant skirt billowing behind me, my freshly washed hair fluttering in the warm summer breeze, my face looking SNATCHED, I’m going to go back home. ”
First of all, beautifully written. Thank you, Eleanor, for a literary masterpiece. In the same vein of things I weirdly miss: having to compete for food everytime it was left in the commons. You’re right– where’s the adrenaline? Where’s the fun? Where’s the competitive food claiming?
“I have no clue when we’re going to get out of quarantine and I’m not sure how I feel about having the freedom to go back into the world. Don’t get me wrong, after quarantine I will be excited to meet up with my friends, to worship out of the comfort of my home and instead in my church’s sanctuary, to shop at 5 below, and even apply for my first job. I am however anxious about how fast time will fly when we do get back in the swing of things. I am a rising senior which means college and scholarship applications are quickly approaching and I worry that since Covid-19 has set us back for so long I won’t be able to catch up. This is not the first time I have been anxious or over-thought something so in order to ease my worries I talk to my friends and look at the brighter side of the situation. AP exams are now open note, many colleges are now test optional, and I get to spend so much time with the people who love and support me the most, my family. There are a million and one things I cannot wait to do after quarantine but for now I want to focus on finishing out my junior year strong and taking advantage of all the free time I have now because I know I can never get these moments back.”
Dang, I felt that a lot. Senior year just seems super daunting every time I think about it, but you are right about there being some upsides to everything that’s going on. Personally, I’m just going through the motions and working on taking it a day at the time. Let’s end this year off strong, and hope for a stronger start after Summer!
“After quarantine I really want to get Krispy Kreme and sushi. Hopefully I’ll be able to go home to my family and eat my grandma’s cooking again. I’m also very excited about wearing the clothes that I bought during quarantine and not wearing the same shirt for several days. And above all, I’m excited to hang out with my friends in person and to be able to hug them.”
Sushi does sound really good right now… as does grandma’s cooking (Note: have unfortunately never had your grandma’s cooking, but feel free to mail some samples to me. I can always reheat them in the microwave.)