I’m a notorious non-hugger. Ask anyone I know. I’ve been tagged in about a million anti-hug memes. My friends all try to sneak-attack me with hugs because they know that’s the best way to get one. Hand to God, I’m actually not against hugs. If you initiate a hug with me, I will go for it. A few people in my life are major huggers, and I let them hug me almost every time I see them. Hugs don’t make me uncomfortable.
My brain just doesn’t tell me to press myself against other people very often, even if they are people I Love very much. Even if someone is crying and I feel very concerned, my first response isn’t to touch their entire torso with my entire torso and wrap my whole arms around their body. I get it in theory, but in practice, “hug” just isn’t my default setting, I guess.
View this post on InstagramSpeaking of hugging, this one time my friend Amanda grabbed me in a big sneaky hug and someone took a picture and now the moment lives forever. Next time I see her, I’ll hug her on purpose. I miss my friends!!
It’s inconsistent because deep connection is my favorite. I love being very emotionally close to people, and I reveal my soul in writing fairly frequently. I love a deep conversation, and I will elbow you out of the way for the chance at a baby snuggle. Cuddling my kids to sleep almost every night is my favorite, and if I’m near my husband, there’s pretty much a 100% chance that I am going to be touching him.
Affection is a go for me, for sure. Hugs just aren’t really my jam.
Or at least they weren’t up to now. COVID-19 has transformed me into a new woman. I am hereby publicly boarding the Hug Train. Next stop: EVERYONE.
When this virus stops crapping on our happiness and we are allowed to be out and together again, the world better buckle up. I have thirty-five years of hugs stored up just ready to be sprinkled around like confetti. Isolation has changed me, and I am now here for it. Officially.
Since I can’t physically hug anyone right this minute, I’m going to dole out some virtual bear hugs. If I could collect these people in my arms and squeeze them tight right now, I would so do it.
Essential Workers
Doctors. Nurses. Grocery Store Employees. Military members. Government workers. Cleaning crews. Restaurant employees. The list goes on and on. If you have remained at work so the rest of us could stay home, I am sending you the biggest virtual hug. The biggest.
View this post on InstagramI’m grateful for my husband’s job. Even though it makes me nervous for him to go to work every day, the fact that he can work and we are not financially struggling during this time is a privilege I have not forgotten. Baby girl loves her daddy, too. #covid19 #airforce #militarykids #babygirl @poshpeanut @freshlypicked
My Kids’ Teachers
Get over here, you gorgeous, brilliant women. Let me just give you a big squeeze of thanks. I can’t imagine keeping up with thirty kids in person, never mind digitally during a pandemic. You’re out here sending my kids gifts, putting together scrapbooks, creating lessons they can do from home, and teaching Zoom lessons while wrangling your own kids. You’re the real MVPs of this pandemic shitshow, and I salute you.
View this post on InstagramWe’ve been blown away by your submissions to the #ThankATeacherChallenge, like this rainbow chalk art from @teaching_with_mrs_gideon ⠀ ⠀ To share our thanks and to keep the momentum of teacher appreciation going strong, we’re extending the $100K TpT Gift Card Giveaway* through Friday, May 8th! Let’s continue celebrating teachers throughout Teacher Appreciation Week ⠀ ⠀ Enter via the link in our bio. *Full Official Rules: https://bit.ly/TpTOfficialRules
Hair Stylists, Waxers, and Nail Technicians
I always knew I loved you, but your absence has made my ungroomed heart grow even fonder. My nails look like I’ve been washing clothes by hand in a bucket on the back porch. My eyebrows are about to reach my lash line. I got “brave” and cut my own bangs. It did not go well. I am a whole entire mess right now, and I just want to give you a quick snuggle and thank you for making me beautiful. I didn’t realize this is what I looked like without you.
View this post on InstagramWe do too!! Oh how we miss our clients… We thought we were going to get to reopen on May 1, however with the mayors latest speech and the reopening of Nashville now happening in phases, it looks like Salons will be considered phase 2. We do not have an official reopening date as of right now and we are so sorry… We miss you all so much! Please keep waiting for us a little bit longer and we promise as soon as our doors are open we will work 24 hours 7 days a week to get you all in and feeling like yourselves again! Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything! Hair products, make up, beauty tips… anything we can do to help you in this trying time! We are still offering free no contact delivery of any and all of our products, so message us for details! You can also go to our website and purchase a gift certificate to be used at a later date, or leave us a fabulous review on Google, Facebook, or Yelp- All of these things give us so much happiness and something to look forward to in the future! Thank you for all that you do and know that we love and miss you terribly and we cannot wait for the day that we can give you a big warm Harlow hug! #Nashville #nashvillesalon #harlowsalonnashville #harlowsalon #harlowhair #hairsalon #nashvillehairsalon
Delivery Drivers
I know you just want to leave the package at my door and get back in your truck. I know you don’t want some wacko mom with cabin fever to throw open the front door and greet you with a sincere embrace. But you have made this pandemic survivable. Literally. You enable the rest of us to stay the hell home like we are supposed to, and still have what we need. If I could run out to that truck and throw my arms around your hero neck, I’d do it. (I’d ask first.)
View this post on InstagramA day when you can pet a dog is always a good one. : @noelsanchezzz
My Husband’s Barber
My love for all beauty professionals runs deep, but my current affection for my husband’s barber surpasses them all. Since this pandemic, I have had to cut my husband’s hair myself. We don’t have the appropriate tools for that job, and I damn sure don’t have the appropriate skills. It’s itchy. It takes me forever. I suck at it. It never looks better than “probably not embarrassing from a distance.” And my husband tries to touch my boobs the whole time. The day my man can safely occupy a barber’s chair again will be cause for celebration. I would envelop that beautiful barber man in a giant hug right this minute to express my retroactive thanks for all the haircuts I haven’t had to do up until now.
View this post on InstagramFREE HAIRCUTS FOR A YEAR!!! That’s right, we are raffling off a YEARS WORTH OF HAIRCUTS!! Raffle tickets can be purchased via Venmo for $20. Every $20 sent to @ thechopshopbarbershop gets you entered into the drawing. All raffle proceeds will be divided and given to the chop shop team members who have been out of work due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
Professional Photographers
Since self-isolation started, I am the proud owner of 7,586 photos of my kids with their eyes closed. I took over two hundred photos of my kids in their Easter clothes to try to get one that I could print for a frame. My baby turned three months old, and I had to attempt to do milestone photos on my own. I kind of had fun, but it took me three days to get ten shots that were not a blur or a disaster. I am not efficient. When I can hire my pro again, I’m going to have to physically stop myself from greeting her with a hug and an, “Oh, thank God!”
View this post on InstagramCOVID-19 means no professional photoshoot for my baby girl at 3 months old. All of my babies get newborn, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and then yearly. Well, I’m no photographer but I do know how to look at Pinterest and do my best. Here’s our makeshift “studio.” Thank goodness babies are cute. #quarantinephotoshoot
