Never in my lifetime did I think I would be part of a global pandemic. As such, we have all learned that in a very short time the rules as we once knew them have changed and will keep evolving. Evolution is a gradual climb, but this has been sudden and unforeseen. The playing field has been leveled; we have come full circle in all walks of industry. I can’t get Tom Cruise’s line from Jerry McGuire out of my head: “Help me help you.” We are all helping one another cope and adapt. Here’s my shortlist of how we now relate to one another:
Old New
Cold and Flu Covid-19
Recycled Bags New Bags
Hand Sanitizer Soap and Hot Water
Online Reservation Online Delivery
Martini Quarantini
Take-Away Curbside No-Touch
Tip Jars Virtual Tip Jars
Disregard Disinfect
PE PPE
Salon Color Color Kits
Glamour Plainness
Boastful Modest
Excess Moderation
Keep Calm And Carry On Keep Calm And Stay Home
Leather Gloves Disposable Gloves
Handshakes Germ Free Gestures
Congregation Isolation
French Kiss Air Kiss
Hugs Virtual Hugs
Vacation Staycation
Dining Out Dining At Home
Commute Reverse Commute
Workplace Meetings Zoom
Take Care Stay Safe
Nice Seeing You See You Next Summer
Curfew Quarantine
Alcohol Alcohol Wipes
Makeup Masks
Reality TV Survival
Cars Walking
Dr. Spock Dr. Fauci
Selfies Self-Imagination
Tomato Juice Bloody Mary
Six Feet Under Six Feet Apart
Spring Forward Spring Backward
School Home School
Weekend What’s A Weekend?
Casual Friday Casual Week
Texting Group Texts
Email Phone Calls
Physical Meeting Physical Distance
Pants Sweatpants
Parties Virtual Parties
Bomb Shelter Shelter In Place
Be a Good Neighbor Avoid Them Like The Plague
Spread Germs Spread Common Sense!
Following The New Rules