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EVERYTHING KING: Christmas variety show pries Wendy from comfort zone

Live music can't be beat and in this week's Everything King, Wendy is reminded of what we've missed
2021-12-06 Peek window(1)
Stock image // Photo by Faisal Rahman via Pexels

It was my first foray back to a live concert two years. A bit of freedom, as it were.

Many of you might have already been to a theatre, concert hall or sports stadium since the start pandemic, but I was holding off. Anti-vaxxers and new variants can make a person paranoid.

A live Christmas variety show got me out of comfort zone and out of my house.

And in case anyone is still nervous, I thought I'd share my experience.

Anyone attending had to be double vaccinated and show your proof with photo ID. It was checked at the entrance.

The hall was maybe half full, so once the audience was inside people could spread out as desired. It didn't feel crowded.

Everyone had to wear a mask at all times during the performance and the ushers were ensuring that you did.

The only time you could remove it was if you were actively drinking  which kind of made me want to actively drink.

The protocols made me feel incredibly safe and any minor inconvenience was forgotten when the Christmas music swelled.

A live band with brass section, harmony singers, traditional carols and contemporary songs giving the hall some actual energy. Definitely not like the Facebook live feeds we have gotten used to.

Is there anything better than a drum beat that matches the beat of your heart?

I had forgotten how much I love live music and the whole experience of a night out in a concert hall. There was a reason to dress up again!

Socializing? Remember that? 

If not too much mingling, at least some pleasantries shared among audience members.

It felt... well, it felt like a bit of normalcy in this crazy time.

As the crowd sang a rousing version of Feliz Navidad, which has now been an ear worm for four days, I was reminded of the comfort of being with like-minded people who seemed equally desperate or excited by the change of pace.

It was the first time performing live in two years for the entertainers who seemed equally pleased to be working again. It has been a long time to avoid so many things we enjoy. We need to feel joy again.

Will I do it regularly? Maybe sporadically.

I felt very safe and as if the facility was doing all the right things for public health.

Will I rush into more crowded situations? Not yet.

I know we are not out of the woods with COVID. There's more to be learned of the latest variant. Boosters need to be booked. We can't let down our guard completely.

But, my one night foray into freedom felt really good. I was smiling the entire night, but under my mask you couldn't tell.

At your own pace and in your time.  Play it safe but enjoy the sounds of the season.


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About the Author: Wendy King

Wendy King writes about all kinds of things from nutrition to the job search from cats to clowns — anything and everything — from the ridiculous to the sublime. Watch for Wendy's column weekly.
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