Five years sounds like a long time but feels like a blink.
Five Halloween costumes. Four birthday parties. Three apartments. Two job changes. One devastating day after which I’ll never really be the same.
Five years ago, I had just turned 35. That age that always seemed so big when I was in high school watching Carrie turn 35 in season 4 of Sex and the City, but then so small when it was me. Now it feels even smaller.
I had just started a new job at PayByPhone. I packed a lunch and a book every morning and took the Skytrain to and from work, five days a week. Little did I know, 2020 would be the last year I’d do that.
I went to the movie theatre often. My friends and I would get there 30 minutes early to put our coats on seats to save them while we went to buy snacks. Little did I know, 2020 would be the last year I’d do that.
I talked to my Mom on the phone every day, even if it was just to chat for 10 minutes while I was walking to the grocery store. Little did I know, 2020 would be the last year I’d do that.
I didn’t know a lot of things. I had no idea that the guy I had been dating for about 3 weeks would move into my apartment the next week to “shelter-in-place” together for what was supposed to be 14 days of working from home.
In his stupid French accent he said “You know, this won’t be 2 weeks. This will last 4 years”, and I thought that was crazy.
I’d tell him now that four years was pretty accurate, if I still talked to him; if I still associated with those who treat integrity like a sorority they chose not to pledge. Little did I know, 2021 would be the last year I’d do that.
Who were you five years ago when our lives changed forever? And who are you now?
Five by five
