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Coronavirus: Searching for the New Normal
How are we doing? When clients ask my husband this question, he always replies: “Another day in paradise.”
The city that “never sleeps” is currently comatose. New York City Streets are empty; most stores and restaurants are shuttered. White hospital tents are springing up in Central Park. I’m thinking it’s not safe to take a power walk anywhere near those tents, especially with spring breezes that could blow deadly germs in our direction. My husband and I quickly detour onto Madison Avenue and turn south for home. Spaced out lines with spaced out people wearing masks and gloves wait on the street in front of Citarella and Duane Reade. I refuse to stand on an outdoor line to be admitted into a store unless it’s an emergency….
Fully protected in matching blue mask and gloves, one of my neighbors retreated to her apartment rather than ride the elevator with us. Is this paranoia or scrupulous adherence to social distancing? Our elevators are small, but traveling from the 9th floor to the lobby probably takes no more than a minute or two. With most tenants in our building staying home most of the time, the (usually slow and crowded) elevator has lately offered express trips to the lobby from our floor.
