THE CRUELEST MONTH OR THE COOLEST MONTH?

April is the cruelest month. At least, that's what T.S. Eliot said. In a nutshell, it's when everything comes out of hibernation. Or rather, when it's forced out of hibernation even though it would rather stay in bed and binge-watch some or other series on Netflix. (Okay, that's not exactly what T.S. Eliot said, but the general idea is there...)

A few weeks ago - in the middle of March - someone mentioned that exactly two years ago we were in our last "normal" week, and we didn't even know it. March of 2020 was like any other, until it wasn't. We had no idea that we were about to be forced into a hibernation of sorts.

Who'd have thought that, a week later, we'd be queuing outside the supermarket and figuring out how to have meetings on a computer? How could we have known that we'd be tasked with entertaining our kids while schools were closed for four months? Not that we knew at the time that it would last for four months, because we didn't know anything at all.

Now, is it just me, or does it feel like April 2022 is drawing us out of hibernation? Not completely, because some scientists on some news channels are talking about the next wave (will it be fifth or sixth? Can anyone remember?) Slowly we're returning to work, to sports events, to capacity-controlled concerts... Could it be that we're returning to some kind of normal? And that doesn't refer to the "New Normal", which was the most often quoted and arguably most annoying phrase of 2020/2021. Are we approaching some kind of "New New Normal"?

And if we are, how should we prepare ourselves for this strange kind of comeback? Fashion blogs all over the internet are talking about what our return-to-work attire should look like. Because now there's a spectrum that ranges from redundant workwear to formal blazers and tracksuit pants worn with bunny slippers.

To take it a step further, how should we conduct ourselves? The elbow bump has tried for two years to become less awkward (with no success). I met a friend in a coffee shop - which in itself felt weird - and she spontaneously threw her arms around me. I fully expected a SWAT team to swing down from the ceiling and tackle us both to the ground - which we probably deserved.

Apart from our clothes and our social greetings, how will we adjust our headspace? Just think about what we've been through and where we are. Some things don't matter like they used to. Some things matter even more. Will we have to justify the odd habits we've developed, and explain what we've been eating and our unconventional exercise routines? Maybe we'll just embrace them, choosing not to judge or be judged.

As we start letting go of many things, let's hope we don't let go of a COVID custom that developed almost instinctively. I can't remember how we started telling friends and strangers alike to "stay safe". But here's hoping it sticks around.