a peek inside the fishbowl

Happy Friday! I hope you have a lovely weekend, wherever you are.

I am hearing too many Covid-related retail and food service horror stories. Clueless shoppers, rude shoppers, impatient shoppers. Ugh. DON’T BE THAT PERSON.

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As some of you know, I’ve been working from home since mid-March or so.

Every once in awhile I find myself thinking wistfully of a beautiful calendar I received for Christmas that’s hanging over my desk there. It’s one of those big ones, gorgeously printed on thick creamy paper… an import from Italy, I believe. I think of it hanging there, stuck on March. I’ve missed the illustrations from April and May and now I might miss June.

Don’t get me wrong. I am ok working from home. I am well-equipped to work here. After all, I did it for many years. Here at home I have an office and a door and a desk and a computer and good wi-fi and an ok desk chair. I have a corner office with two windows (!), excellent coffee, a friendly colleague. I can take a walk at lunch, and often do. I really have nothing to complain about, but I sure miss being at the “real” office.

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I am thinking ahead to what it will be like to work in the office again. It’s a very caring and progressive place but not all offices are like mine. I really and truly hope that as people go back to work, attend backyard BBQs, go shopping, and meet up with friends etc. that everyone (1) heeds the latest directives from Ottawa Public Health and (2) communicates clearly and honestly to the people in their close proximity, no matter where they are.

For example, if I’m chatting with someone I can ask: “It looks like I’m standing a little closer than two metres/six feet, is this ok with you?” And then be prepared to step back if needed.

Related to this: Most of my rage at the grocery store right now is directly proportionate to the number of people I see not respecting my space or the space of others. And guess what? It turns out I AM the kind of person who tells people they’re going the wrong way down a one-way aisle at the grocery store! One person I informed (politely) clearly hadn’t noticed while the other took offence, but honestly, I don’t care what people think. I’m speaking up.

Any excuse to revisit how Paraguayans dealt with a statue of reviled dictator Alfredo Stroessner, whose 35 year reign between 1954 and 1989 was described as a ‘poor man’s Nazi regime’. pic.twitter.com/ABVoKKmjal

— Catherine Slessor (@cath_slessor) June 7, 2020

• The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of Snake Handler Grace Olive Wiley, mentalfloss.com
• ‘She still lives!’ Famed Yellowstone bear emerges from winter – with cubs, theguardian.com
• Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, youtube.com
• 25 great Eastern Ontario road trips you can do right now!, ottawaroadtrips.com

On the nightstand: Wanderers, by Chuck Wendig