I experienced my first post-Covid hug recently, and let me tell you, it was probably the best hug of my life. Really. And yes, if you’ve been reading this blog, I know what you’re thinking. Did she really just say she enjoyed the hug? She who doesn’t want pandemic era social norms and physical distancing to end just said she enjoyed physical contact with another human (and did not also simultaneously combust???). Yup. You heard it hear first, people.
Okay, so let’s discuss this hug. First of all, I will totally admit that our family is on the extra cautious side. We have been for the entire pandemic and we’re okay with the choices we’ve made. We totally own it. I will also totally admit that I was not “fully vaccinated” when the first hug occurred :O
So, what happened? How did it all break down? It sort of played out like the absolute best case scenario for how one could lose their post-covid “hug virginity.” Seriously. I was talking to a very good friend that I’ve known for years. We were outside, wearing masks, and standing several feet away from each other. She was about to get in her car to leave and we both stood there a little awkwardly, wanting to hug each other, but not sure what to do. It seemed like the most natural end to the conversation, and yet we were both hesitant.
Being two rational and level headed adults, who clearly had a desire for physical affection, we discussed. We hashed out the pros and cons (literally) and discussed the dates of our vaccine doses. She had received the Johnson and Johnson more than two weeks prior, so she was fully vaccinated. As protected as she would be for the foreseeable future. I had received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine more than two weeks before, so we rationalized that I was 80% covered (give or take based on my personal immune response), AND also therefore just as protected as she was. We also discussed the level of precautions that our families take, the fact that we were outside, AND still wearing masks. All of our data pointed to the same conclusion. It should be safe.
And so we did it. We both agreed that we were comfortable with our level of protection and we shared a consensual hug between two adults. And it was glorious. We embraced. We talked afterwards about how amazing it was and she left for home, both of us feeling a little more right with the world. We texted later, relishing in the hug and admitting to each other that we had immediately confessed the hug to our husbands. No secrets here.
We plan to see each other more often now, and have discussed ALL the hugs that we will continue to give each other every time we are together. They may not all be quite as special as that first hug, but we can’t take for granted the fact that it is now safe to continue hugging each other, and of course take advantage of every opportunity that we get.
