Coronavirus lockdown brings simplicity to life. It’ll be missed as new normal dawns

States are starting to reopen as we enter another month of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although Californians still remains on indeterminate lockdown due to a statewide shelter-at-home order, the curtain of sequestration will soon be raised, with new lives awaiting us on the other side.

While I’m curious to watch the new normal take shape, I’ll miss the silver linings of this strange and historic event.

First, I’ll miss the special time I’ve spent with my family. My husband and I have had endless opportunities to talk, cook, hike and re-watch “Downton Abbey.”

Then our eldest son temporarily moved home from Los Angeles. He hasn’t lived at home for an extended period of time since he was in high school 20 years ago.

Then he was an 18-year-old clamoring to move out on his own. Now, he’s a thoughtful grown man, acutely sensitive to his aging parents’ needs.

His eggplant parmesan dinners are delectable. But his kind words and calming reassurance will reside in my heart forever.

Next, I’ll miss the vast expanses of unstructured time.

Rather than bolting awake in the morning and heading off to my commitment for the day, I lie in bed knowing I have nowhere to go.

I’ve had ample time to work in my gardens. I’ve baked bread and played word games, all without the guilt I should be doing something else.

At the same time, there’s been a blessed absence of decisions. With the schedule wiped clean and literally no place to go, the biggest decision is what to eat for dinner.

Even that choice has been downsized because shopping has become such an ordeal. We no longer swing by Trader Joe’s for a last-minute item. Dinner consists of what’s in the fridge, pantry and garden. And that’s been perfectly fine.

I’ll miss the unique connection that’s been forged with people around the globe. We’re all in some form of sequestration, regardless of our address. If I speak with someone in Atlanta or Madrid and ask, “How are you doing?” they know exactly what I mean. Fortunately, the most common response seems to be, “I’m OK and working from home.”

I’ll also miss television personalities broadcasting from their kitchens. This has been a rare opportunity to peek into the living spaces of those we watch on the news. And it’s amazing how similarly we live. We have pets that wander through our houses and bike helmets hanging in the hall. We stick children’s artwork on the refrigerator door. There’s no room for pretense when you’re working from home. The pandemic has leveled that field.

I fully understand that my COVID-19 experience has been idyllic. My family is healthy and financially secure. I have a safe home to live in and ample amounts of food on my plate. I express gratitude for those blessings on a daily basis.

Of course, sequestration has been horribly disruptive. Each of us is altered as a result. Still, there have been unexpected perks. I’ll miss them when they’re gone.