adrian_turtle

I remember when I might say "Hi, I'm Adrian," and reach out to shake a stranger's hand like it was no big deal. Like the only danger was to my wrist, and I could ease that by reaching with both hands. I suspect that kind of casual social touch will be gone, even After we stop other social distancing.

And the fist-bumps I give my students, to emphasize "well done!" I started doing it with some students because they seemed to find it really energizing and encouraging, and came to like it myself. I might need to stop that, After.

What's really going to feel like a loss is the social hugs. I'm not talking about intimate hugs (I am going right into Redbird's arms as soon as quarantine lifts just a little.) I mean the hugs that say, "you are part of my extended family and I care about you," or "it was wonderful to sing with you." I suspect that After, people will be a lot more hesitant to offer hugs as well as to accept them. You'll need to be more intimate with somebody to touch them at all, and it will be a loss.