“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 733 (Saturday) – art and snacks

For the first time since February or March of 2020, I attended an art show reception. It was at a Lowell gallery where I am a member of the board, and there were snacks and wine. Despite cold temperatures and drizzle, a steady stream of visitors came to the gallery where two shows were being celebrated. One show was prints by the North of Boston Print Collaborative, the other, an exhibit of wall-mounted sculptures. 

Usually, the board members provide the reception refreshments, which, before the pandemic, included cheese and crackers, stuffed grape leaves, finger sandwiches, and baked goods. Since the pandemic, the biggest difference between refreshments now and the before times is more individually wrapped items, a habit developed during the receptions held during the remote times. Today’s table included individually wrapped Little Debby frosted cakes, individually wrapped home-baked cookies, wrapped sliced turkey and cheese subs, and single serve bags of salty snacks, plus unwrapped jumbo shrimp, dip, and baked goods.

Little Debby cakes - very tasty.

While chatting with other board members at the reception, I noticed a well-dressed woman wearing a long black skirt printed with red flowers, a coat and stylish hat, carrying a dark brown purse with designer logos that zipped open at the top with two tan leather handles over her arm. 

She slowly and elegantly circled the table, picking up items. Two Little Debby cakes, a couple cookies, some sub slices. Instead of setting the foods onto one of the plates stacked at the corner of the table, each was slipped into her purse. Three or four times she glided around the table loading up her purse. It is not the first time or place I’ve seen people stocking up at an art reception food table.

There was a reception at another nearby gallery that featured works inspired by Jack Kerouac. I considered going after the first reception, but it was cold and rainy, would have required walking a couple blocks from where I was parked, and my back hurt from standing for the past three hours. Plus, Winston was home alone, and his dinner time was approaching, so home won out over another event. I told myself I'll catch the show some weekday during lunch break.

It was great to be amongst my fellow board members and the arts community. It was nice to be surrounded by art and artists. And when it was over, it was nice to return to the quiet of home. The rain changed to snow and began coating lawns, cars, and everything but the pavement.

After the much-needed diversion and social interaction, it was right back to the boring parts of daily life. The day’s domestic highlights were running the dishwasher and laundry, including a load of Winston’s pee bands, the most glamorous laundry load of all. The next important household/life task will be remembering to turn the clock ahead one hour.