drugstore fantasy

Last Sunday, I waited eagerly in the cosmetics section of a CVS store on Sherman Way and Sepulveda in Van Nuys, CA – only a few miles from where I grew up. I was there because I had been able to secure a COVID vaccination appointment for a first shot of Moderna after checking and re-checking several websites for a week. As my turn came and I approached the intimate space between the cosmetics section and the bathrooms, I realized a lot of the stress and fear of the last year was coming to an end in the most unceremonious place on the planet. I really had a much better picture in mind.

I have spent the last week conjuring up my complete end of COVID fantasy.  And it goes a little like this:

As I stepped out of the bathroom alcove and began my 15 minute post-vaccine waiting period, a group of animated forest animals emerged from aisle 5.  Right behind them were pink butterflies fluttering above the aisle markers and I began to hear the sound of running water, like a babbling brook. A deer and fawn approached, nodded and said, “This is it. This is your end-of-COVID fantasy.  It starts right when you walk out of this CVS!”  “Wow!” I thought. “This is IT!” 

Instantaneously, my outfit changed from my comfortable/ready for a long car ride/not so flattering loungewear to the most perfect, well-fitted, age appropriate street wear designed by my favorite Project Runway designer. I leapt from the plastic chair and could feel an increased sense of coordination and rhythm in my body. I reached down and hugged each of the forest animals and waved goodbye as I approached the exit to the CVS.  All of the other customers in the store were hugging and clapping and throwing confetti in the air.

I stepped outside and realized that it was not the sad mini mall parking lot anymore.  We were standing in a beautiful field of grass and the cloudy March weather had changed to sunny and warm. There was music playing – songs from my “Goodbye Covid” playlist*. Even though I have nearly no sense of rhythm, I jumped right into a huge “Flash Mob” and knew every step.  I recognized the people dancing next to me – all of my favorite Peloton instructors including Cody Rigsby, 13 of my friends from UCLA, my “COVID 4” tennis partners, the online Bridge crew, and everyone who I have met up with for dog walks and outdoor socializing in the last year.  Even my husband and son, who pretty much hate the idea of a flash mob, jumped in with unbridled enthusiasm.

From there, we proceeded to do all of the most non-COVID compliant things that haven’t happened in a year.  My daughter and I sang show tunes (on key!) with the entire San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus including numbers from “Dear Evan Hansen,” “In the Heights” and “Hamilton.” We went to Disneyland, rode 10 rides in two hours and had a frozen chocolate-covered banana.  We flew to Las Vegas, unmasked and with TSA Pre, to attend an exclusive concert by Lady GaGa, Lizzo and The Weeknd.  Two hundred of my closest friends, with drinks in hand and pure joy on their faces, were dancing and singing, hugging and laughing.  The next four weeks were a whirlwind of birthday parties, weddings, graduations, tailgates, dinner parties and happy hours.  Milestone birthdays were properly celebrated and weddings toasted. 

I will spare you more of the flowery details because I think you get the idea.  CVS on a random Saturday, in the dim fluorescent light with 5 other strangers, just didn’t mark the momentous occasion of the end of COVID (or more like the true beginning of the end of COVID). I have an appointment for my second shot in a few weeks and I am planning to wear a superhero costume and bring a bottle of champagne.  Gotta be ready just in case the flash mob shows up.

*Any playlist suggestions can be added to the “End of Covid” collaborative playlist on Spotify.