Thread by @jaycurrie

As we walk through the rubble of the collapsed COVID narrative it is worth taking a moment to think about what we'd like to replace it with. Yes, our elites see #DigitalID and 15 minute cities, what do we see? 1/

We learned a few things from the "stay at home" rules. One was that the good ladies of the shire can bake up a storm. Sure, TP was scarce at the beginning of the COVID madness, but yeast was more valuable than rubies. 2/

Bread was, and is, comforting. My sweetie bakes loaves every two days and they are delicious. A bit of butter and they are a snack, a lot of butter and a bit of cheese and they are grilled and brilliant. 3/

Stuck at home, gentlemen gardened, fixed their cars, built wee, roof top farms - in my case, without much success - actually took our dogs out for decent walks, read books rather than screens, enjoyed the quiet of a fire and a glass or two of wine. It was not so bad. 4/

In many ways, COVID slowed us down. All the hustle and bustle of pre-COVID life was put on hold. (Which did not do one damn thing to defeat COVID.) We were all forced to live differently and that was not at all a bad thing. 5/

For a lot of people, COVID and the silly response thereto, offered the opportunity to think about how they lived. And, yes, for a lot of people it was also an opportunity to catch up on the Netflix they'd missed. 6/

Having an enforced interruption in life is a very rare thing. Normally, you would have to get very sick to have "permission" to step away from what you'd been doing. COVID gave healthy people a chance to rethink. 7/

In a very real sense, the COVID scare and the bizarre over-reaction to it, shuffled almost everyone's deck. For a lot of men my age it was the signal to retire. The "silver wave" has crushed the trades. 8/

For the kids, who were never in any danger from the virus, the extra gov't loot was a good reason to walk away from crappy, minimum-wage, jobs and see what else they could do. We'll see how that works out. 9/

In an important way, COVID reshuffled the deck. The hand you hold is not the hand you came in on. So, how do we want that to work out? Employment is one thing, how we operate socially is another. The good ladies baking can give away a loaf. And they are. 10/

I, of course, want a return to the elegance and world of the 50's. Where ladies lunched, wore gloves, top handled bags and dresses which took yards of fabric. [But I also want to be able to do the old guy Oak Bay chic of boat shoes, khakis and a sweater.) 11

My youngest son has been invited to an award ceremony for his girlfriend at her college. What to wear? When I was his age the answer was simple, blue blazer, grey trousers, white or blue button-down shirt, quiet tie. Now it is complicated. 12/

Grand scheme? Does not matter. Showing up matters. But we have lost a few steps. What used to be automatic has become something to think about. Max will be fine whatever he wears. (Being the 6'2 hockey bro in a sea of soy-boys always works.) 13/

Post COVID we all have to make choices. Office/no office, engaged/unengaged, how do we rebuild? What should matter. We'll see. But we will also shape this next world. 14/14