Yes, stopping into Dunkin Donuts was a treat for me too, passed several today on the way back from a quick trip to Costco and Shop Rite, not very busy for that time of the morning. Hairdresser, nail salon (growing out my powder dipped nails) think I’ll just get regular manicures in the future. The owner of my hairdressing salon sent out an email today with procedures that will be put into place whenever she’s allowed to reopen. Clients will remain in their cars until they receive an email to enter, hairdressers gowned and masked, clients will be asked to wash hands upon entering, wear a mask and remain in the chair until they are told to move to sinks and then return to original chair, place cash tips in envelope, leave on counter, no appointment cards handed out, etc, etc, etc.

Meeting up with my girlfriends for lunch and nice long chats.

Sitting outside our french bakery with a chaussons aux pommes and cafe au lait. They do deliver, but it’s not the same. So instead I have been eating apple turnovers and coffee 😉.

Hugging strangers in the grocery store. We have Bosnian immigrants here, and I love talking to them, and we always leave each other with a hug!

Marlene - that is a beautiful scene even without the pastries.

I miss other people - my children and grand daughter of course but my girlfriends too. In 1995 I volunteered to help organize the after-prom party at our h.s. with 6 other moms. We started monthly meetings at the school but very quickly changed to local restaurants and we've been getting together for monthly lunches for 25 years. We've shared so much in that time - weddings, divorces, grandchildren, retirement, illnesses, vacations - we're down to 5 since one died of breast cancer and another is is widowed.

Since moving 2 1/2 yearsago I've also become close friends with 5 other women and at least we've been able to walk though our little community every day.

I miss the flowers🌺 that are blooming in my back yard right now:

Funny, I was going to say hugs. I can see I’m not alone in that. I miss being able to run to the grocery store for just one or two items instead of it having to be a big scary trip. I really miss being able to go to the nurseries for plants. I usually go this time of year.

ded does your nursery not have curbside or delivery? We went a few weeks ago, I could call in what I wanted and pick up. When I got there (it's all outdoors), there were TWO other customers in the bedding plant area (separate from trees/shrubs) so I did wander around to look at a couple of things. I did not have contact with anyone.

I miss going out to cozy little restaurants with my dh.

Well, so many things but mostly would like to see my dad.

I miss dinners with my sister and her dh. I miss going for long walks on the beach. I miss spur of the moment trips to the local market to pick up something special for dinner.

Seeing our kids and grandkids and friends in person. My monthly massage.

I miss weekend excursions. We always like to explore--go hiking, find a new place to eat, go to a new exhibit, take a day trip with friends, go see a movie in a theater... Without those outings, one day feels much like the next.

The Library. Definitely that.

I miss popping down the road to a tiki bar, eating sushi rolls, watching the boats go by and talking to the vacationers from around the world. I used to complain that the tourists were crowding my locals. Now I sort of miss their happy energy . I miss having my sons over for dinner or meeting up somewhere. I miss getting my hair done.

Mostly though, I’m grateful we are all well. I’m grateful that although not wealthy we have the means to ride this out. So many people in the world are so negatively affected. It’s beyond sad.

Right now I’m just eating, waiting for my hair pieces and applying lipstick. I may need to widen doorways lol.

I miss the feeling of freedom of doing something basic like walking through the supermarket without thinking every. little. thing is contaminated.

I miss going out for lunch with DH. We have always cooked our evening meals at home. Going to the grocery stores now is very stressful.

Going to the Y. Concerts. Not expecting any concerts through summer and not even fall. Travel! Being able to hop on a plane and have an adventure.

I miss my Pilates studio, chiropractor, massage therapist, the library and being able to visit my mom.

Tina, yes some nurseries have curbside pickup and some of the big ones in Lancaster County are open for business. Somehow,it’s just not the same. I would be worried about getting too close to other shoppers. The aisles are very narrow.

I miss being with and hugs with the people I love.

I miss the carefree feeling of going where I want. I miss practicing at the yoga studio.

Let’s just get through. How sweet it will be when we can do it again!

I miss seeing my parents in person, and they only live 5 minutes away.

I miss the hallway chatting and laughter with my workplace colleagues.

I thought I would miss my regular dip manicure, but after having that stuff off my nails for a couple or three weeks now, I realize how much healthier it is to let them be natural.

I miss joyriding in my convertible.

I miss going to church.

I miss running errands. Since DH always works from home, I love getting out and doing my thing without interrupting a phone meeting or being interrupted with "whatcha doin?"

I also miss my Bell choir.

Funny, the two things I miss are so different: one is being independent, the other is working in concert with others.

Besides many of the things/people mentioned already, I'm longing for the car wash to open!

Even though I'm driving very little, my black pick-up that doesn't fit into the garage is COVERED in bright yellow-green pollen. It's going to turn to cement before I can have it washed- I have such low water pressure here that washing at home is an onerous and water wasting task.

My son, but that's a BIG thing. He's the only one of my kids not staying here, and the last time I saw him I couldn't hug him. He's a paramedic, so I took him some of my homemade masks (and some TP ;).

I miss not talking to people when I'm out and about. I always thought I was shy (I guess I was when I was a kid), but now I realize I always used talk to people in grocery lines, or while we were both looking for the same item on the shelf. I, too, miss hugging friends I run into at the store.

Massage! I had one scheduled a day or two after the shut down order came. So sad to have missed it. Mad I gave my husband the appointment 10 days earlier. I won't be that nice again!

Oly, the car wash is closed? I haven't checked MY favorite car wash, that had actual people working, but DH goes to the drive-thru one. I'm pretty sure the manned one is open. Or do you mean the DIY one with bays?

Maybe it is the novelty, but I have actually enjoyed what my friends call virtual "playdates", virtual book club, virtual cooking club, etc. I guess it's only been a month too, and we have one more to go. So we will see.

I have been uber productive (closets!) and doing a lot of housecleaning and cooking (albeit one meal but often complex recipes), been busy with work, and also a roster of family activities. I am starting to worry I "won't be done" by May 20.

bp, I think they are ALL closed! I looked online at a few of their websites, as well as the governor's orders and they are deemed non-essential.

DH went to the drive-thru car wash today. I guess a good-lookin’ ride is essential lol

It's weird because there is virtually no contact with anyone, except for payment, and the washers are well beyond 6 ft apart when they are brushing pre-wash. I have an old electric pressure washer buried in the garage, I might have to dig it out.

Our car washes are all closed.

I miss restaurant food. We surely aren't deprived by eating at home since I'm a good cook 😀, but boy, do I long for a good meal O.U.T!

My former office mates and I had a ZOOM lunch yesterday, instead of our regular monthly restaurant outing. It was fun and chaotic and goofy. We will do it again next month, but I really want a meal in a restaurant!

I so miss my newest grandbabies. I have one who is almost 4 months and one who is 10 months. Of course I miss all the others, too. They range from 4 years to 19 and they all give really good hugs.

I miss playing maj jong with friends and meeting at the clubhouse on Friday nights to socialize. Im feeling really really lonely.

I miss having something to look forward to. 😔 Dd should be going to prom a week from tomorrow. We had so much fun buying her dresses (she was going to two prom this Spring) and were planning hair, accessories, etc. We both enjoy that stuff...now, gone. She would’ve been absolutely beautiful. We had tickets to a big college football game this fall...probably won’t have fans in the stadium. Ds‘s job as a counselor at sailing camp that he loves may not happen. I feel like the next year is just one long boring blah ahead of us with no plays, travel, concerts...hell, I don’t even know if dd will get to cheer for our football team for her senior year. Will there be football? Will we have Parent’s Weekend at Ds’s frat house this Fall?

I‘m sorry...I’m just having a blue day. Hopefully my normal optimism will return shortly. Right now, thinking about going to the beach July 4 is all that is getting me through. (car trip, private home on private beach.) If for some reason we can’t do that...I just can’t go there mentally. 😔

I miss having a working phone. Cell reception is horrible where I live so we all rely on our landlines which haven't worked for over two weeks and, according to one repairman, may not be fixed until August or September. I can only communicate using texts which doesn't work so well when you are trying to deal with repair people, utilities, banks, etc. In order to make an intelligible call, I have to drive to an area with a strong cell signal.

So, here I am with a leaking roof and a leaking refrigerator, trying to schedule repairs and replacements. I keep telling the vendors that I can only be contacted by text, but they try to call anyway and of course, cannot understand a word I'm saying. I'm beyond frustrated! I feel even worse for the people here who are trying and finding it impossible to work from home.

Nini, I miss things to look forward to as well. No vacation is hard. I’m trying to get creative. One thing I have planned is packing a car picnic and listening to book tapes with my husband. Our first trip will be driving around an area we haven’t been thats not overly far while listening to The Great Gatsby https://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Gatsby/dp/B00BWY8FAU. I also bought two other “used”classics for other mini car picnic drives.

If the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is essential for our state, car washes should be essential in every state.

I miss being able to plan ahead. Almost anything. Our usual Memorial weekend with friends and family at our lake cabin probably won’t happen. Or the big July 4 festivities?? I asked my husband today if his big conference in August (The Breakers) isn’t cancelled would he feel safe attending? I don’t think I would. And there is no way that I am in the right state of mind to plan a trip.

I miss my kids going to school although I don't miss getting up early to take them or reminding them to do their homework. I miss my water Zumba class at the Y. I miss meeting my book club in person instead of on Zoom. I miss lunch with my best friend and wandering the aisles of stores. I miss the local movie theater and going out to dinner.

I miss having my neighbors go to work and school,so I can have a peaceful neighborhood all to myself for a few hours. Although everyone is distancing, they are outside a lot! I do appreciate the occasional conversation.

I miss lap swimming. It's my favorite exercise and I usually swim 3x per week at one of my local rec centers. This time of year they would be opening the outdoor pool for lap swimming only (no kids) and swimming outside is one of my greatest joys.

I miss freedom!

It's not a little thing: I miss church and especially communion. I can't imagine when we'll return to drinking from the common cup.

I miss peace of mind. I know that's not coming back any time soon.

I also miss visits to our neighborhood coffee house. Even though their drive thru is still open, a visit doesn't come without a certain sense of apprehension. Thanks to Bunny I bought a Nespresso and can now pretty much duplicate their latte at home.

More than anything I miss a big hug! I am alone during this quarantine. I sometimes just hug my pillow really tight. Sounds sad -I know, but I really do miss hugs.

I want to hug people too 🙁😢

I was discussing with my daughter, who is a mother to be (which brings some worry in the best of times) what Christmas might be like this year. I said we have everything we need. If we can put up our decorations and have a meal together and go to church if we want, we’ll be so thankful. It won’t take much to make us happy anymore.

(((aktillery))) for you.

Big hugs aktillery!

My sisters and I hug one another by wrapping our arms around ourselves and blowing one another kisses from across the way. I had to drop things off at their doorsteps and we did our ritual hugs and it did feel better.

Perhaps you could take a picture of yourself sending hugs to whoever you wish you could hug. That way you both get something out of it :-).

Thanks Skibby and Yeon! You guys are sweet!!

Hang in there aktillery.