Coronavirus and 2020: Plans...what plans?

Starting in March 2020, everything about how we lived our lives changed. Activities that we took for normal, we now had to think about and most likely overthink before doing them. It's four months later and life as we knew it before the pandemic is slowly starting to return....very slowly. Places that were closed are beginning to reopen. That leads to decisions on whether we should be going to them. Tough decisions.

I like to think I've been careful during the pandemic. I usually think things through before going anywhere....usually. For instance, I've been going to the grocery store since this started in March, but I go to stores where I know the layout. I try to buy only a few things, I go get them, check out and get out! I try to spend ten minutes or less in the store. Same thing at Walgreens when buying needed items. Yeah, I admit to occasionally breaking this rule, such as when I was trying to buy a new cell phone and doing the research on new models, but it's rare.

However, now with almost everything partially opened, it's led to possibly taking more chances and definitely to more thinking and decisions.

The big ones are easy: Airplanes, nope...not yet. Not even with an empty middle seat. It's going to take a wedding or a death to get me to fly...and maybe not even then. Cruises...nope...maybe never. We've already seen where new cruises have been linked to multiple cases of Coronavirus. There's nothing I need to see bad enough to get me on a ship in the near future...not even Alaska.

The little ones make the decisions tougher.

Restaurants have been open for more than a month. I've eaten outside on more than a few occasions. I'm never comfortable doing it. I may act cool and collected while doing this, but the reality is far from it. I'm always looking around to make sure that no one is sitting next to our table. When the meal is over, I'm glad to be gone. And, now that we can eat inside, I'm worse. I'll do it, but admittedly, it's scary.

That leads to this weekend. Museums are now open. Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications reopened yesterday with free admission through August 2nd. They have an exhibit called "Stay Tuned: Rock on TV." It's from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and features artifacts from the early days of the rock-television era. It started last October and was planned to end in April.

Keyword is plans because... plans during a pandemic in 2020 ...what plans?

I missed early opportunities to see this and now the pandemic has given me a second chance.

In order to keep people safe from the virus, the museum is limiting the number of people allowed into the building. It's ten at a time and you're limited to ninety minutes before you leave and the next group of ten come inside. Sound safe, right?

My plan was to order my ticket, be there at ten today, see the exhibit, take photos, leave, go home and write about it.

Plans during a pandemic in 2020...what plans?

I went to be last night excited about my Saturday adventure....but I couldn't fall asleep. I started thinking overthinking my plan. Why was I going to make this trip? Was it necessary to do this. Why take a risk? After much tossing and turning, I decided no. I cancelled my plans.

Plan during a pandemic in 2020...what plans?

Instead of going downtown, I decided to head to my local Starbucks for coffee and a sandwich. They have an outdoor area where I can eat and read a book. Sounds safe, right? Safer than a museum, right?

I get to the store and see people waiting outside. That's not a good sign, is it? Strike one! I look inside and people are lined up to the door. That another not so good sign, right? Strike two! I look at the outside seating and it's full. STRIKE THREE! I'M OUT!!!

Plans during a pandemic in 2020...what plans?

Oh well, I went home, had coffee, read my book, watched some baseball and wrote this instead of writing about my trip to the museum. It was not my original or my back-up plan, but it worked. Still, I'd like to see that museum exhibit. Maybe later in the year when hopefully things calm down...maybe. I'd make plans, but...

Plans during a pandemic in 2020...what plans?

Related Post: My ten favorite items at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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