Editor’s note

Ialways thought of myself as an introvert, but the pandemic has shown me that my need to see and be seen by others, and to socialise with friends, is far greater than I knew. It really bothers me that no-one can see my smile, and I’ve started making weird scrunchy eyes to compensate or exaggerated thumbs-up gestures to show my friendliness. And no, seeing and being seen on social media doesn’t tick the same box for me at all. It feels more fake than friendly at the moment.

Before the third wave, I attended a small 40th birthday breakfast, and what a blast I had! The week before, I also had breakfast with a friend to meet her new baby. I was early, and the elderly couple at the next table were celebrating that they had had their vaccinations that morning. They were full of praise for how smoothly it had all gone. We chatted away – I think they were also missing other humans. We didn’t talk about death; it is not part of polite conversation, you know, but just as I have many friends who have lost parents and grandparents, they must also have experienced loss and fear. It was there in the relief that they expressed that their vaccinations were done and dusted.

My friend arrived with her baby, and in no time, little Anja had the whole restaurant cooing, the waiter and the newly vaccinated couple included. According to her mom, Anja is the fussiest baby ever, and she was very nervous about bringing her out, but that day she stole the show and smiled and gurgled happily the entire time. I think she must be a little closet extrovert too, like me, who needed some time out among other people to feel less fussy and more like herself! Her first outing was a huge success. We’ve all missed seeing babies and toddlers out and about as parents understandably keep them home as far as possible. I used to like squeeze or tickle a little sock-encased foot in a boring supermarket queue sometimes, and I never minded when someone else’s granny did the same to my girls when they were little. I guess the days of touching a stranger’s baby are over for good.

I remember that in Nelson Mandela’s biography Long Walk to Freedom he wrote that one of the things he missed most about being in prison was seeing and hearing children. Of course, he missed seeing his own children grow up too. Heartbreaking. I can’t even imagine that kind of pain. I know I was moaning about social media earlier, but at least it gives grandparents a chance to connect in a small way with their families while we all still keep our distance. So, share away!

Here’s to a speedy roll-out of more vaccinations, so we can all meet in person again soon. In the meantime,

I’ll be scrunching my eyes and thumbsupping everyone I see – I hope the habit doesn’t stick!