Ready to Unpause

I headed back to Toronto on Thursday. There was hardly anyone onboard despite VIA Rail running only 1 train a day to Toronto. On Friday and Saturday, I discovered that social distancing was different in a larger city.

The parking lot at my local mall was full with people there to shop at the grocery store. At 8 am, the line-up was at least 100 folks who were at best a tad over 1 metre apart. These still too-close line-ups would be evident throughout the week-end at the butcher shop and other businesses. They competed for sidewalk space with pedestrians and runners. I can see why people wanted mayor John Tory to close off street lanes to increase walking room.

Not willing to wait that long, I headed to Chinatown instead. There was no distancing enforced at all. Everyone came and went as they pleased at the supermarkets and the aisles were packed with shoppers. One difference from other locations: all wore masks and gloves. On the way home, I stopped by Fresca for a (Toronto style) margherita slice and a quick chat with the taciturn owner. It was so thin, oily, and fragrant that I practically inhaled it. So good to be back.

It was interesting to see what restaurants (and other stores) decided to remain open as I made my way around. Luckily, Vena's Roti was serving customers so that was lunch for Saturday. With the sun out it was lively in the streets, though less than usual for a week-end.

Somehow spring has arrived; there was still light past 8 pm. It finally felt visceral to me. When I had planned my trip to Ottawa for March, I knew it would be a slow-down. Outside of meeting old friends and family, there were no other activities. So the arrival of the corinavirus didn't change anything.

But things were supposed to pick up again on my return starting with a Vagabon concert at The Garrison on Thursday, a new iteration of Alphabet of Wrongdoing at The Music Gallery, dinner with friends, and a slate of big-city fun up ahead. Yet everything was still on hold until there were better news.