Summary

The author, a lover of oysters and social experiences, finds that despite being fully vaccinated and returning to old habits like dining out, the experience post-lockdown lacks the luster it once held, reflecting a personal and societal shift in the wake of the pandemic.

Abstract

The author describes a personal journey of developing a taste for oysters and the joyous experiences associated with dining out, which became a distant memory during the pandemic lockdowns. With the advent of vaccinations, the author eagerly anticipates resuming these experiences, only to find that the reality doesn't match the dream. The world and the author have changed, and the once cherished social interactions now feel muted by the lingering caution and fear in society. The author reflects on the need to adjust to a new normal, suggesting that dreams and expectations may need to evolve alongside the changing world.

Opinions

The author initially had an aversion to raw oysters but eventually developed a love for them, particularly enjoying the full experience of dining out.
The pandemic caused the author to avoid dining out due to concerns over the potential spread of COVID-19, leading to a year-long hiatus from these experiences.
Post-vaccination, the author expected to seamlessly return to pre-pandemic activities but found the experiences to be lacking, indicating a disconnect between expectations and reality.
The author believes that both they and the world have undergone a transformation, necessitating a readjustment period to rediscover enjoyment in social settings.
There is an acknowledgment that despite physical masks coming off, people still harbor fears and protective attitudes, which affects the overall dining experience.
The author suggests that it's important to be patient and gentle with oneself and others as everyone navigates this new normal, which includes potentially redefining one's dreams and desires.
The author invites readers to share their own experiences of reintegrating into society post-lockdown, indicating a shared journey of adaptation and recovery.

I Craved Oysters and People

But when I got my fix it didn’t hit the spot

I love oysters. I was kind of a late bloomer, to be honest. I ate all types of shellfish, sushi, sashimi, even steak tartar…but the sliminess of oysters I couldn’t stomach for a long time. I started with fried oysters, which doesn’t really count in my opinion even though they’re still slimy, because what’s not to love when something, anything, is deep-fried?

I tried my first raw oyster a few years ago in Santa Barbara on a beautiful sunny day, with a great glass of wine, and I was hooked.

It wasn’t just the oyster, although it was admittedly delicious, but rather the entire experience.

It’s like the experience of drinking wine or coffee out of fancy glasses, or mugs, enjoying everything from the aroma to the way the glass feels in your hand, to the taste. Having that iced tray set before me, squeezing lemon onto my shells, and ever-so-delicately saucing my oysters one by one as I relish in the various flavors while sipping a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc on the patio — that’s an experience I can get behind!

I’ve enjoyed many oysters on many patios with many glasses of wine since that first time; by the Hudson in NYC, in holes in the wall in New Orleans, streetside in San Francisco, and on Greenville Ave. in my city where I live here in Texas and it has always been a treat.

During the lockdown, I didn’t even indulge in my sushi addiction, let alone oysters!

The thought of anyone else touching my food, or even my food-containers early on, with their potentially-covid-infested bare hands, was enough to get me cooking at home!

And with that went oysters, patios, and pampering glasses of wine with a view; a distant dream that only grew in my head over the last year.

A month ago, I got my second shot, and two weeks ago, per the CDC, I became part of those fully vaccinated; a stamp of approval in my mind to resume my pre-pandemic life. I was ready, I thought, to hit the streets again, to return to my life as I once knew it, before the world changed. But my reality has not been as glamorous as the dreams that I have built up in my head for my exodus back into life.

You see, I’ve changed, and the world too has changed. Together we must learn how to dance with one another again.

I must discover who I am and want to be; a new me within a new world. Simply plugging my old self into a new world, isn’t working; it is proving to not be the seamless, perfect, fit I imagined.

Yesterday I went out for oysters. Minus the sun, which decided to hide just as I took my street-side seat and ordered my crisp glass of white, the scene was perfectly set for my long-awaited indulgence.

I ordered my dozen, sipped my sauv blanc, read my book, watched the street around me buzzing with life, and prepared to feel every bit of that independence and joy that I’d been dreaming about for a year.

Yet it never came.

The oysters were delicious but the experience itself lacked luster. It just didn’t hit the spot. I didn’t understand.

Pre-pandemic, I thrived on being with others, soaking in the energy of a crowd, friends or strangers, life buzzing around me.

I craved to experience life by being in it, engaging with it through food, travel, and connection with other human beings. One of my favorite pastimes was going out to eat, with myself, making new friends with strangers, or simply enjoying a date with myself. But I didn’t talk to anyone yesterday, let alone make new friends.

Instead of excitement and renewal, I felt bored and unenthused. I didn’t even enjoy the time with myself (Perhaps because I’ve been my only companion for the last year?)

The reality is that things are simply different now. People are afraid of each other. None of us know who is safe and who is not and while our physical masks might be coming off, our protective shields remain deeply rooted into the core of our very being now. We might be vaccinated, but we are still afraid. We might be coming out of our homes, but we are not yet coming out of our shells. It’s going to take some time to readjust.

The world has changed and we have collectively changed as a result.

We must be patient and gentle with ourselves and those around us as we adjust to this new normal and find our new places within it. And perhaps, it might be appropriate, to readjust our dreams too…or to allow ourselves to indulge in new ones.

What has your experience been like in integrating back into the world, post-lockdowns, shut-downs, and vaccination? Share with us in the comments.