Roger Zee Memoirs
Reintegrate 07/17/20
A couple of weeks ago I decided to bite the bullet, make my peace with a world gone crazy, and slowly reintegrate into society. What else could I really do since I can not continue to live in almost total isolation for the next two years? So instead of walking up and down the 8 flights of stairs in my apartment building for exercise, I began walking around Turnure Park in White Plains again, just across the street from me, and catching up with friends I haven"t seen in 3 1/2 months. Welcome to the latest excerpt from my memoirs, "Life and Times of a Pandemic Musician."
It took me about a week to get used to talking to people while keeping the proper social distance. I still find it hard to relax when I'm constantly adjusting personal space with my feet. Some days provoke more anxiety than others, especially when the park fills up with lots of children running around and adults without masks. Feels like I'm back in elementary school running an obstacle course or playing dodgeball, LOL!
And here's where it gets tricky, maybe even sticky! On a couple of days, I noticed a bunch of people attending a Yoga / Pilates class under the trees in the back of the park, most wearing masks and trying to keep socially distant. So one morning before the class starts, I introduce myself to the young lady and personal trainer who runs it, Svetlana Berezhnaya. She explains that weather permitting, she teaches these free classes under the auspices of the City of White Pains on Tuesday evenings at 6P and Thursday mornings at 10A.
As I finish my laps, I bubble over with excitement at the prospect of meeting new people at the next class. I call up a few friends and discuss it with them because I'm at extreme risk for Covid-19 and as far as I know, until now managed to avoid it. They give me the go-ahead.
But when Thursday morning comes, I feel very sore from my previous day's heavy Taekwondo workout. After all, if the "Revolution" comes, I will protect myself! It's a hot morning and something just doesn't feel right. So when the class starts, I walk across the street to watch a little. It beckons me like the ancient Greek Sirens!
When the next session rolls around, I observe that one as well. The jury's still out, but so far I've decided it's too risky for me, especially because I can easily do my daughter Charlotte Mander (Healin'Feelin'Yoga) classes at home on YouTube. But you never know!
So on this cool, delightfully rainy Covid-19 lockdown day, I dream about "Saturday in the Park," stretching and sweating next to ten or more beautiful women all the while learning the bass parts to Chicago's "Greatest Hits." One <3>
YouTube - Saturday in the Park - Chicago
©2020 Roger Zee