A Two Event Evening

Back home after an interesting two event evening. Becky and I went out first to an art opening reception over at the Buffalo Arts Studio Gallery in the Tri-Main Building. This was our first art opening we've attended since early March 2020 before the pandemic had taken hold. This was also the first opening reception at the BAS since the start of the pandemic and the gallery staff was very excited. We were excited to see our friend Kathy Sherin's show and also the work of Oreen Cohen who was one of Becky's students at UB and her work study student many years ago.

There was a good crowd and we knew many people there. In fact, it was too good a crowd and most of the people did not wear masks including us although we had our masks and had worn them initially. There was lots of hand shaking and hugs all around.  However, when the staff began their self congratulatory speeches about reopening and then the two artists did their talks the crowd got much tighter. It started to feel uncomfortable for us. There was very little ventilation in the gallery space where the crowds had gathered and we decided to cut our time there short than originally planned. I quickly finished my beer and we were out of there.

The show was very good and it was great seeing all the people we knew. Most of them we hadn't seen in well over a year and our only communications with them had on social media. Of course everyone wanted to hear about our grandchildren.

This art opening was our first event out together that was indoors and not family related since the start of the pandemic. I had gone to an Meet and Greet event at the downtown public library several weeks ago which was my first time being somewhere with lots of people I knew well and hadn't seen for a long time. It was a little more spread out than tonight and I felt more comfortable being there. We went to a WOW that same evening... another two event evening for me.

Our second event this evening was a Christmas in July party put together by a young couple who live on our street down on the next block. I've worked with both of them on the Parkside Community Association board in years past and the woman is a daughter of a friend. The party was outside although there was a spectacular spread of food on their dining room table. It was a pool party with lots of kids and there were several tents with tables and chairs. People were sitting close together but it was outside and it was a perfectly beautiful weather throughout the evening. There were also Christmas decorations throughout the backyard including decorated trees and lights.

We had expected to stay at the art opening longer and were not planning to get over to the party until around 8:30 but because of our decision to leave that art reception early we ended up going over there around 7:30. We had lots of friends at the party and they were expecting us a little later but we all happy to see us. We told them about feeling uncomfortable over at Tri-Main.

However, once again there were lots of handshakes and hugs. Becky had made some cookies to add to the desert pile and we brought our cooler bag with a couple of beers for me and an NA beer and soda for Becky. We were glad to have had our own drinks because there was a very poor beverage selection. Lots of kid drinks, White Claw, Molson Canadian, Miller Lite and bottled water. 

We did have a very nice time and stayed until 9:30. The party was scheduled for 6pm to 10pm and we left just as the silent disco dancing was getting ready to start for the adults. There had already been lots of kids dancing with the flashing headphones on their heads.

By 9:30 we were ready to go. It had been a long social evening and we were not really feeling it anymore after all the social interactions throughout the night. The uncomfortableness of socializing was affecting us. I wonder how long that will continue to happen? Are we changed now for the foreseeable future? There is a big spike in the covid infections everywhere but especially where the vaccinations rates are low. Fortunately the people we've been interacting with have been vaccinated but you never know in a crowd.