By Dawn M. Staszak
One of the most controversial aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the concept of shutdowns. Earlier, many of us did not understand why grocery stores could stay open and bars and restaurants were targeted for closure.
Of course, none of us is an infectious disease expert, but do our opinions
The pathway of a virus is simple, find a host. A host can be found when enough of pathogen enters. It is transmitted through airborne particles and inhaled by our respiratory systems. It more easily happens within enclosed spaces, and thus, indoor dining, if we eat and drink and speak in proximity of each other without masks.
On the contrary, when we go grocery shopping in this pandemic, we wear our masks, purposefully navigate the store based on our shopping lists, and do not normally stop to chit-chat with others. The shopping experience is simply in-and-out experience vital to our physical well being.
Yet, what about nourishing our minds and souls for sustained life? It led to my decision to seek safe, social, havens.
As a solid proponent of science and medicine, I am in favor of wearing the mask in public and social distancing, no doubt, however, my soul was hurting and in need of attention. My mind was starving for adult conversation.
Last year, when the cases rose and safety restrictions tightened, I found places I could practice safe, social distancing, and socialization, and included D&G Brewery in St. Charles and Preservation in Geneva. They have been my sanctuaries and my lifesavers.
I have come to discover that Alex, one of the owners of D&G, is a wonderful human being! He believes in doing the right thing to preserve the lives and well-being of his customers. He said to me, “I would be mortified to discover any one of my customers had caught COVID-19 and died after a visit here.”
Thus, he always takes the proper precautions to keep us safe while enjoying the brewery. I have especially enjoyed the ambiance of live music and multiple fire pits in their outdoor backyard open patio with tasty food truck providers! Nothing beats that smell of burning wood on my coat when I get home to remember my good time there.
At Preservation, Amy and Jake have been wonderful company to me during my solo visits while describing the measures their owner has taken to ensure safety and comfort for their customers, from installing a rooftop with overhead heaters, to offering the use of washed and plastic-wrapped blankets to borrow while cozying alongside their multiple open fire pits, listening to live music, enjoying their delicious food and drink.
Of course, the most susceptible should not try it. An important need for those of us who are people persons is to somehow get our needs met. these establishments have taken precautions to keep their customers safe, versus those establishments which refused, or chose not to enforce, the mask-wearing or social-distancing precautions.
I feel as though despite, or because of, this pandemic, I have had the opportunity to meet incredible individuals and discover wonderful establishments that I will be sure to continue patronizing after this pandemic.
When the day comes that I can visit anywhere I please, I will not forget Alex and Jason from D&G, nor Amy and Jason at Preservation, and the engaging conversations we have had that have meant so much. I specifically recall that evening discussing with Alex our feeling about following the rules and keeping people safe, and an evening that Amy reached out to me when I was feeling down. They may never know how just a few moments of discussion touched me deeply in my loneliness and sadness about this situation we are experiencing and sparked a customer loyalty.
As of this writing, we have reached Tier 4 in my area, which has allowed me to discover one more place I feel safe in dining, Lazy Dog Restaurant in Naperville. My two friends and I sat in a huge outdoor open tent on an unusually warm January evening, and we were only three customers, so I felt safe. Indoors, their building has exceedingly high ceilings; it is an incredibly open, large space. Therefore, I chose to dine there the following week as well, and our waitress, Kierstin, remembered me from the prior week, and even remembered what I had for dinner! It is that kind of personal touch which endears me to a restaurant and keeps me going back. When the weather warms up, I am very much looking forward to the outdoor patio which has a fire pit.
I feel as though if we have learned anything from COVID-19, is how important the individuals are in our lives, and I mean everyone. Of course, we prioritize our children, spouses, parents, extended family, and friends, but I truly miss my co-workers and the rest of those I would see regularly at my work-place. I even miss seeing the full faces of the workers at the two grocery stores I frequent the most. I miss being able to shake a person’s hand that I first meet. I wholeheartedly miss staff members and fellow parents at my children’s school that I used to see volunteering for various events and functions. I deeply miss my church family and to hug them, even though we do Zoom church meetings, but Zoom does not replace a hug, handshake, pat on the back, hand-holding during the closing song, or sharing hospitality after the service.
Perhaps we can be a little kinder to each other. Perhaps we can hang around a little longer for conversation instead of a quick hi and bye and hurry off to our next appointment. Perhaps we could ensure that we make time and give respect and appreciate each other a bit more: The food staff member, the grocery store worker, the janitor, the mailman all those we may have taken for granted who became essential workers.
Let us make sure this time around, we put people before things.