This week’s Walk It Off guest hasn’t seen their family since before the pandemic, and they are sorely missing them. I’ve been lucky enough to see a number of friends since things began opening back up, but there are still so many people I want to visit. For example, my childhood best friend recently had a second kid, but I haven’t made it to the west coast to visit him since before they had their first. Given that travel, especially international travel, is a difficult decision at the moment, I wanted to ask all of you: Who are you longing for? To put it another way, if you could bring anyone you want on a walk with you today, who would it be?
I've been very lucky that the people I missed the most last year are people I've been able to see as we open up, so I'm not sure I'm longing for anyone right now. I do miss places though. And opportunities. I had planned on a trip to Ireland this year. Or maybe France. Lockdown happened before I could decide. And I do wonder about who I would've met this past year if it hadn't been for lockdowns. Conversely, I wonder about who I might meet in the future that I wouldn't have otherwise. Whose paths will cross with mine now only because the trajectory of things shifted so much? That's who I would like to take a walk with. Someone I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet without all of us going through this past year.
My mother-in-law passed away suddenly on Memorial Day weekend while we are on vacation together as a family, renting a beautiful, quiet lake house. She was 72 and she had been a part of my life for more than 20 years. It was the first time we were all together, my wife's immediate family, in that way since the Pandemic began, and it was supposed to be a fun and relaxing weekend. We were all excited for the positive trajectory of things with vaccinations rates up and infections down, and we were making plans for what we would do next. She was a force of nature and someone who connected with everyone in a room. Although she had trouble with mobility, I'd be thrilled to be able to simply stroll around the bock with her right now.
We said goodbye to our 14 year old dog last January. He was my favorite walking buddy. Walking with him set the rhythm of my days for 14 years and I miss him terribly. I still think about our last walk together, which I didn't know was our last walk together when it happened, but oh how I long for just one more turn around the block, watching him sniff at every tree, chase every squirrel, and give me that doleful stare when whenever we turned for home, like he was saying, "Already? Can't we just go a little further?"
I haven't had a good walk since the pandemic started. I'm missing my first ever solid community of friends who I never doubted myself with or our relationship (hehe anxiety!) or felt I had to hide myself with, in the Netherlands. We could walk anywhere and it would be fun. I don't know if even seeing them this year is possible because I don't quite feel ready for international travel.
I would take a walk in the mountains with my father. He became extremely ill with complications from COVID last year, after contracting it from a patient at work, and I have not been able to see him since it all started falling apart. He is having surgery this fall from those same complications and I would do anything to take a walk with him before it.
there's a person I haven't seen in exactly 6 months who I miss every day, and I hope I get a chance to walk alongside in some fashion again. sometimes you're just tired and sad.
I desperately miss my friend Farrah. We're physically not too far away from one another (only a couple hours away), but she is a doctor and continues to be very busy, even with case numbers being as low as they are. Every year, we always go on a trip together in either January or February and last year we managed to go to Philly together about a month before the pandemic hit. It was a great trip and was, unsurprisingly, the highlight of our respective 2020 year. I suspect there will be no trip this year and I have never gone so long without seeing her. If I could, I would teleport her here to Toronto, get coffee, and walk around, showing her all of the dumb film/tv crews that are shooting in my neighborhood right now.
I miss my old friends from my home town, so much. Only used to see them 1-2 times/year since I moved away, but I am terrified I don't know how we can keep friendships sustained across 2 years of not seeing each other. I know people did double that in like World War 2 or whatever, but fucking hell I miss my old friends.
I don't have anyone far away that I haven't seen since the pandemic. One person I really wanted to see was actually in my city a couple weeks ago but we only got 48 minutes together (we had to time it so she didn't miss leaving to catch her plane). She is one of my best friends (since high school) and a really specialized doctor so has been working 12-14 hour days since the pandemic started and I wish we could go for a nice long walk together and just talk. FaceTime isn't the same - with her two crazy dogs vying for attention on one end and my three daughters vying for attention on the other end. It is so nice to have a friend who knew you before having children or illness so you can just talk about things that have nothing to do with children or illness.
If I were to travel the one thing I always wanted to do was hike the West Highland Way with my mum. She did it years ago when she lived in Scotland and it had been a goal since then. I am no longer physically capable of such a feet but I'm lucky that she is visiting so we can at least go for short walks around where I live. (It's no Scotland but it will have to do.)
My grandparents. They raised me when I was growing up and I haven't seen them since 2018 when I went to surprise them back in India. That surprise remains the best thing I've ever done. They were so, so, so happy. I miss them a lot and it would be amazing to see them again in real life soon and just speak with them on the phone.
MY MOM!!! I’m so used to seeing her every few months and not seeing her since Feb 2020 has been excruciating. I’m finally seeing her at the end of the month and I cannot wait!!!
My mom and brother, whom I lost to covid. To hear the dirty jokes from my brother and the exasperated sighs from mom would be the best walk ever. 💔😢
My sister Sheila who passed away a month ago. 🌻
I've been very lucky that the people I missed the most last year are people I've been able to see as we open up, so I'm not sure I'm longing for anyone right now. I do miss places though. And opportunities. I had planned on a trip to Ireland this year. Or maybe France. Lockdown happened before I could decide. And I do wonder about who I would've met this past year if it hadn't been for lockdowns. Conversely, I wonder about who I might meet in the future that I wouldn't have otherwise. Whose paths will cross with mine now only because the trajectory of things shifted so much? That's who I would like to take a walk with. Someone I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet without all of us going through this past year.
My mother-in-law passed away suddenly on Memorial Day weekend while we are on vacation together as a family, renting a beautiful, quiet lake house. She was 72 and she had been a part of my life for more than 20 years. It was the first time we were all together, my wife's immediate family, in that way since the Pandemic began, and it was supposed to be a fun and relaxing weekend. We were all excited for the positive trajectory of things with vaccinations rates up and infections down, and we were making plans for what we would do next. She was a force of nature and someone who connected with everyone in a room. Although she had trouble with mobility, I'd be thrilled to be able to simply stroll around the bock with her right now.
We said goodbye to our 14 year old dog last January. He was my favorite walking buddy. Walking with him set the rhythm of my days for 14 years and I miss him terribly. I still think about our last walk together, which I didn't know was our last walk together when it happened, but oh how I long for just one more turn around the block, watching him sniff at every tree, chase every squirrel, and give me that doleful stare when whenever we turned for home, like he was saying, "Already? Can't we just go a little further?"
I wish we could, pal. I really wish we could.
I haven't had a good walk since the pandemic started. I'm missing my first ever solid community of friends who I never doubted myself with or our relationship (hehe anxiety!) or felt I had to hide myself with, in the Netherlands. We could walk anywhere and it would be fun. I don't know if even seeing them this year is possible because I don't quite feel ready for international travel.
I would take a walk in the mountains with my father. He became extremely ill with complications from COVID last year, after contracting it from a patient at work, and I have not been able to see him since it all started falling apart. He is having surgery this fall from those same complications and I would do anything to take a walk with him before it.
there's a person I haven't seen in exactly 6 months who I miss every day, and I hope I get a chance to walk alongside in some fashion again. sometimes you're just tired and sad.
I desperately miss my friend Farrah. We're physically not too far away from one another (only a couple hours away), but she is a doctor and continues to be very busy, even with case numbers being as low as they are. Every year, we always go on a trip together in either January or February and last year we managed to go to Philly together about a month before the pandemic hit. It was a great trip and was, unsurprisingly, the highlight of our respective 2020 year. I suspect there will be no trip this year and I have never gone so long without seeing her. If I could, I would teleport her here to Toronto, get coffee, and walk around, showing her all of the dumb film/tv crews that are shooting in my neighborhood right now.
I miss my old friends from my home town, so much. Only used to see them 1-2 times/year since I moved away, but I am terrified I don't know how we can keep friendships sustained across 2 years of not seeing each other. I know people did double that in like World War 2 or whatever, but fucking hell I miss my old friends.
I don't have anyone far away that I haven't seen since the pandemic. One person I really wanted to see was actually in my city a couple weeks ago but we only got 48 minutes together (we had to time it so she didn't miss leaving to catch her plane). She is one of my best friends (since high school) and a really specialized doctor so has been working 12-14 hour days since the pandemic started and I wish we could go for a nice long walk together and just talk. FaceTime isn't the same - with her two crazy dogs vying for attention on one end and my three daughters vying for attention on the other end. It is so nice to have a friend who knew you before having children or illness so you can just talk about things that have nothing to do with children or illness.
If I were to travel the one thing I always wanted to do was hike the West Highland Way with my mum. She did it years ago when she lived in Scotland and it had been a goal since then. I am no longer physically capable of such a feet but I'm lucky that she is visiting so we can at least go for short walks around where I live. (It's no Scotland but it will have to do.)
My grandparents. They raised me when I was growing up and I haven't seen them since 2018 when I went to surprise them back in India. That surprise remains the best thing I've ever done. They were so, so, so happy. I miss them a lot and it would be amazing to see them again in real life soon and just speak with them on the phone.
MY MOM!!! I’m so used to seeing her every few months and not seeing her since Feb 2020 has been excruciating. I’m finally seeing her at the end of the month and I cannot wait!!!