<strong>By Lee Scott</strong>

A&nbsp;few months ago, my husband and I had a casual dinner party with three other couples. It was one of those easy gatherings where we greeted one another with hugs and kisses.

Each couple brought a course, like an appetizer, salad, or dessert. We supplied the hamburgers, potato salad, a vegetable tray, and of course, plenty of beer and wine.

We had a wonderful time roaming around from one conversation to another, from the porch to the kitchen.

Afterward, when everyone was leaving, there were more kisses and hugs and promises to get together again soon.

But now that party seems like a lifetime ago since none of us have been entertaining. That was when we were so used to seeing each other, we just took it for granted.

When I asked my girlfriends about the things they have missed during this quarantine besides the dinner parties, each had a different reply.

One said she missed just having lunch with the girls; one said, going shopping downtown; and another friend said she missed going to her Yoga classes at the gym.

There were other things like getting a pedicure, going to church and getting a haircut that were high on the lists too. Those day-to-day activities that all of us had been doing, have now take on a special significance

So, I started to envision my next dinner party once things begin to get back to “normal.” The invitation will read something like:

“Let’s get together (and apart) at the SCOTTS. Please bring your own chairs, food and alcohol. We will supply hand sanitizers and plastic dinnerware, cups, napkins, and utensils. The backyard will be marked off, so each couple is 6 feet apart. A garbage can will be available at the top of the driveway to dispose of all the plastic and paper products. There will be one uncorked bottle of wine with the couple’s name on it. Please be careful if you decide to share your bottle. Beer will be in the cooler.

Please – NO HUGGING AND KISSING, except between couples. As usual, air kisses will be acceptable and encouraged. In the event of rain, this outdoor gathering will be postponed until the next sunny day.”

When I told my friends about the post pandemic dinner party, they all agreed it was a great idea. But they worried that after a few hours of eating and drinking, it will just seem so natural to say good night with a hug and kiss. My thought is that maybe the alcohol in us might act as its own disinfectant so we will not have to worry.

But whatever happens, there will still be plenty of hand sanitizers available as they leave.

<i>Lee Scott, a writer and recent retiree, shares her everyday observations about life after career. A former commercial banker responsible for helping her clients to reach their business objectives, Scott now translates those analytical skills to her writings. She lives on St. Helena Island and enjoys boating, traveling and reading.</i>