Oh, haha. Witty title and all.

These times are no fun times, so I try to make up with humour, with work, with music, and with cycling. I started writing this two weeks or so ago, and within this time I realised, despite actually having the perfect condition for being in solitude, having practiced a steady dose of keeping my distance (or, as I say, keeping my dancing area clear), despite to actually being used to being by myself, I do not handle this very well. I am not good at this. The whole miserable CoVid19-situation is getting at me. Just that. I don’t like it at all!

What I did enjoy in the beginning was the silence. No traffic noises on the streets and in the air, more birds singing … it is pure peace out there. It’s nice, but I miss people’s noises. There’s less banter on the streets, no children playing, with their excited cheers and chats. The silence doesn’t sound right to me. I am grateful for music! There are so many music live streams online these days, there’s a daily concert by Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, many bands and artists are playing online concerts, sharing their talent for free, and that is wonderful, it really is. Sunday two weeks ago there was a call for musicians in Germany to play “Ode an die Freude” (‘Song of Joy’, European Hymn) together, from windows and balconys, so I dug out my bass recorder (haven’t played in ages) and joined my neighbours. I later found my tenor recorder, too, still looking for the alto … if this time is good for anything, it’s searching for stuff and, with a bit of luck, finding it, and then taking the time to re-learn an instrument or a language or being with oneself, et cetera. If this doesn’t read overly enthusiastic, it is because I am not very appreciative of the whole situation. Maybe I am whinging. So be it.

I go out, of course. I did some shopping, waited in a long queue at the supermarket, I helped sorting local vegetables and other goodies at my local Food Assembly, I go for walks and, of course, I go cycling, just not too far, in case of an accident, I don’t want to strain our health system more than necessary.

When I am outdoors, cycling, walking, being in the garden, it amazes me that nature still just does its thing, having the full spring scenario going, with trees in blossom, flowers blooming, birds singing, squirrels running up and down the trees … mother nature is actually happy with the whole shutdown, and that is a good thing indeed. The air quality has improved significantly, and all over the world there’s reports of animals taking back their natural space, endangered sea turtles hatch on deserted beaches, undisturbed by a human audience, wild boar and goats roaming empty streets – I guess you have seen reports like these, too. Nature seems to have pushed their reset button.

But I miss being with people, I really do. Actually I am fine being on my own, but there was always the option, the possibility of meeting up a friend, having a chat, a coffee, a spin ’round town, grabbing a bite … being together, talking face to face. Now, these things are not really possible anymore. Speaking on the phone is just not the same. Yes, there’s video calling, but my mama for instance can’t handle that. I haven’t seen her for a while now and I miss her! We speak on the phone several times a day, and last Saturday we listened to a classical concert together (which was on TV), that was lovely. Anyway it’s not the same. Not at all.

When I started writing this, I had something positive and cheerful in mind, but more than two weeks without proper social contact have taken their toll on my good mood. Just now I would love to sit in a café surrounded by people and the usual soundscape of chats and banter, spoons stirring in cups, chairs being pushed, soft music playing in the background … Or going on a ride with others, asphalt flying under my wheels, wind blowing in my face, other riders around me, sharing the little joys of cycling – this would make me plain happy. Things that used to be normal, now seem luxurious to me, to most of us.

But for now I have to make do with my phone and social media and seeing people from a distance. When this is all over, my friends are in for a good hug – I am looking forward to that.

Stay healthy everyone and be safe! And if you feel lonely as I do, just admit to it and reach out.

Take care! x