Just before leaving for Left Coast
Crime (yes, I flew all the way from Columbus, Ohio, to San Diego, California, only
to fly home a day later), I said to my husband, "I love days when there's absolutely nothing on the calendar."
I got what I asked for.
Initially it was fun going through
my Outlook calendar and deleting all my appointments—my scheduled colonoscopy
in particular. All I had to do was write, write, write—perfect timing because I
have a book due to my publisher on July 1.
That's when the Law of Unintended
Consequences kicked in.
As far as I can tell, the Law of
Unintended Consequences was best defined by sociologist Robert K. Merton in
1936. Merton's article, The Unanticipated
Consequences of Purposive Social Action, lists five ways that actions,
particularly those taken on a large scale, can result in unexpected
consequences, whether positive, negative, or neutral, that veer from the intent
of the initial action.
I can't speak to large-scale social actions,
but I can share five ways social distancing (aka "staying home") has
created unintended consequences in my own life. They are, in no particular
order:
In fifth grade, I was voted "most forgetful." Why my teacher, Mrs. Prout, thought it would be a good idea to label children, I have no idea. I shouldn't complain—my friend Kathy was voted "most stuck-up." As an adult I learned my forgetfulness is due to a mild case of ADD. It's not that I actually forget stuff; I just don't remember at the appropriate time. Over the years, I've developed coping mechanisms that work for me (usually). Now, with virtually no commitments, my natural tendencies toward forgetfulness, procrastination, and unreliability are returning. Good grief.
I've never been one of those women
who love to cook. Except now. All of a sudden—and without any logical
explanation—I find myself longing to recreate Martha Stewart's famous
five-layer ombre cake in shades of pink. So far I've resisted these urges, but
if the lock-down goes on for much longer, who knows? It might make a great
"cake fails" post on Facebook.
3. My husband and I are discovering some wonderful new TV shows.
Thank goodness we bought a ROKU
stick before all this began. Now we have access to fabulous British shows like The Royal and The Royal Today (both set in a cottage hospital in Yorkshire), Death in Paradise, Britain's Secret Treasures, The
Coroner, and Monty Don's Gardener's
World. My husband is even enjoying the British version of Antiques Roadshow. This is a minor
miracle. Our cultural horizons are expanding. I hope it lasts.
4. We are Zooming with people we haven't seen in years.
One irony of social distancing is a
new interest in Zoom. Since this stay-home thing began, we've attended book
clubs, church services, family get-togethers, a neighborhood meeting, and all
manner of social events. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I enjoyed a Zoom
post-dinner cocktail party with a couple who live in our city. We'd been
meaning to get together with them for years. Now, when we can't, we did. Last
week-end my husband and I Zoomed with his brother and sister and their
significant others in, respectively, Indiana and Oregon. The three of them
hadn't been together at the same time in over twenty years. I hope this lasts,
too.
Why? I have no idea, but I've
developed a habit of taking a nap in the afternoon, usually after lunch. It's
not that I'm tired; I just get sleepy. I feel slightly guilty about it. And I'm
wondering if, when all this is over, my naps will continue. That remains to be
seen.
Unintended consequences. There are aspects of this
forced retreat from life that I like, but I'm also itching to get back to
normal—whatever normal is. We may never be the same.
What are the unintended consequences
of social distancing in your life?
So funny! Connie if you make that cake, you need to post live pictures. It is gorgeous, but OMG it looks labor intensive.
ReplyDeleteMy life has not changed too much since I have worked from home for the past twelve years although my current work schedule is 4 AM to 12 PM. I am adjusting to that and it has dinged my writing time which is normally 3 AM to 5 or 6 AM. One strange thing, I'm becoming more patient. Don't know how that relates to the current crisis though. It's not a bad thing :)
Fun post, Connie, and so true. I've never been one to bake much, especially cookies. But I've resorted to baking, much to the dismay of my waistline. I'm not even going to get on a scale anytime soon. I must admit that I love having a free calendar.
ReplyDeleteBaking, yes. I’ve tried numerous banana nutbread recipes and given the results to friends. I used to love baking but never felt like I had time. Now I’m enjoying it again. Otherwise, much is the same. I live alone, so it isn’t hard for me to adjust. But cake, not so much, Connie. Anyone having lots of dreams? I wonder if that is caused by fewer distractions.
ReplyDeleteI miss my gym sessions and gym buddies, but we give the dogs a long walk every morning, and at 1pm, I take a Cincinnati Ballet Facebook Live class (barre, conditioning, pilates, ballet). I'm also attacking weeds in the late afternoon as I plot the next day's writing.
ReplyDeleteMy husband watches a Metropolitan Opera HD streaming broadcast every night at 7:30. I listen and watch the dance sequences. Last Friday, we watched the 25th anniversary Albert Hall production of Phantom, which was so much fun!
You all are creative--baking, ballet, opera. On April 28th I'm registered for a lecture on the fashions of Edwardian England, sponsored by The Royal Oak Society. And maybe another streaming Broadway play this weekend. We are also trying out shows on Acorn and Britbox that we might not have tried before. Deadwater Fell with David Tennant--but man, it's dark. I need something lighter like new episodes of Father Brown.
ReplyDeleteBaking, reading, writing, walks with the dog, tromping in the woods to cut vines off trees--I've found I have more to do than before the lockdown. Of course, I'm retired and taking care of my husband, who is not in good health, so the main difference is skipping my aquatic exercise class (which I truly miss) and getting him to events with his friends that he used to be able to drive himself to, but can't any more. I have to admit I'm not missing sitting in the car waiting for his poker game or investment club meeting to be over. And, surprisingly, he doesn't seem to miss the social interaction much.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't forget those wonderful afternoon naps!