All of a sudden it seems that we are re-starting “normal” life. This afternoon was spent putting together my new selection of pictures for display at the Square & Compass. It almost felt at first as if I had forgotten how to do it. With a certain amount of hesitation and blundering about, however, I am ready to take my choice of half-a-dozen pieces over there tomorrow morning.
Tonight (possibly more remarkably) my wife and I will be going to the theatre. I am not sure when that last happened, but it certainly feels a long time ago. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the occasion is that I will have to wear clothes that are reasonably smart. I can’t remember when I last wore a proper jacket instead of a fleece or a sweater. Just the prospect of dressing for the occasion generates a feeling of excitement. The question of whether or not the performance is any good has almost paled into insignificance.
Then on Saturday morning we will be going to the first of the new season’s meetings of the regional Italian Circle. That, like to many other social activities, went into moth-balls for the duration of the pandemic. This really does generate a feeling of trepidation beyond anything associated with the other events. Will I actually be able to remember any Italian at all? I’ve not managed do any of the revision I promised myself a month ago, with the exception of listening to a really useful on-line service entitled Easy Italian News. I’m not doing too badly when it comes to following the spoken word, but I have yet to face the test of actually opening my mouth to speak. Perhaps the wine will help.
It’s all very exciting! What I want now, however, more than anything else, is the assurance that I have not forgotten how to paint. I am approaching this one tentatively, with a preparatory laying out in pencil of a potential picture. It has to be admitted that I have exhausted all the possible excuses for not actually getting on with it. For me, however, there can be no meaningful talk about “normality” if I am not painting.