I Did Something Really Weird Last Night: I Went Out

It’s not that I never go out during these quarantine days. I go on daily walks, I visit friends, I go to the beach, I may even pop into a restaurant. But these are normal, standard outings. They’re not evening affairs.

Pre-quarantine, I was invited regularly to evening events— galas, fundraisers, lectures, screenings, etc. And then… poof! The L.A. Jewish calendar shut down. Now, my evenings are mostly occupied with videos of my grandson and Netflix.

Until last night.

There I was with my mask on, waiting in line with a friend for an intimate outdoor performance of “Paris Chansons” at the Culver Hotel. The host who greeted us said to me, “I remember you from the last show.” The last show? That was in February. That may have been the last time I went to an evening affair before COVID-19 turned our planet upside down.

Eight months is a long time to stay away from the social scene. This fills me with ambivalence. On one hand, it’s liberating to own your time and do as you wish. On the other, it’s elevating to go out and be stimulated by humanity.

As we watched the show last night, in a gorgeous setting that sparkled with lights, there was something exhilarating about just being there. After months of social isolation, that alone felt like an accomplishment.

This is one way the quarantine year of 2020 has changed us: The most normal thing can feel like a big deal.

This is one way the quarantine year of 2020 has changed us: The most normal thing can feel like a big deal.

This is true for a lot of things. My daily walks are really a big deal. I savor them. At a time when there are so many restrictions, I’m grateful just to walk and breathe some fresh air.

The same applies to Shabbat dinners with my kids or my regular visits to friends (physically distanced with “virtual hugs”) or my Sunday trips to the ocean. The pandemic has made all those things a big deal. I’m especially grateful for all of them.

The music at Paris Chansons was wonderful. The crowd was joyful. The conversation was stimulating. But none of that compared to the weird and gratifying feeling of just going out at night in the bewildering year of 2020.