On New Year’s Eve 2020, I went to the local credit union to deposit my paycheck. Upon arrival in the ATM vestibule, I was met by a credit union employee. He informed me that both ATMs were not working for deposits. Of course they weren’t… 2020. I headed back to my car, through the building. There was a lady looking down at her phone while standing in the middle of the hallway leading to the parking lot door. I walked around her, and headed briskly through the doorway. Halfway to my car I heard a voice say “In Paris they hold the door for you (laughs) but not in Seattle”. It was the hallway lady. I said “Are you talking to me? I didn’t know you were behind me”. She said “I was five feet behind you”. As I got in my car I said loudly “This isn’t Paris”. Not much of a comeback, but I was stunned. In fact, I almost cried. Then it occurred to me that due to COVID, we are all trying to keep socially distanced from each other. It would not have been possible for me to hold the door for Paris Lady and also be six feet away from her. In fact, I should have chastised her for following me at less than six feet. By the time this occurred to me, she was across the street and heading through another parking lot. I would have to stalk her just to yell my “Oh yah? Well…” comment at her. Seriously, this has been a dumpster fire of a year. I know with any little thing that goes wrong I say “Of course… 2020”. That could be true but now that it’s 2021, I need to change my outlook. On to better things, right? Maybe I should take up French…
Au revoir.
