No problem! If we can't party, we will "aparty"!
Updated: Jan 9, 2021
Just like everybody else, my friends and I are not allowed to gather because of the coronavirus. However, thanks to Zoom we have found a new way to be closer and have a good time. After all, if we can't party we will aparty!
With so many changes we have been forced to face lately, after a while, we not only start to get tired of being confined, but start to wonder if we are going mad. I, for example, had a very hard time a couple of days ago. I’ve started to feel trapped; as if life simply has been put on hold.
You probably are looking at this word aparty and wondering if you are really that much out of touch with the outside world. Given that, and realizing there are so many words out there you didn't even know existed before March, and you were just too busy living your life. Now you probably spend most of your time watching Netflix . . .
Behold! It's nothing to worry about. Although, I felt that way when I recently read a romantic note sent to a friend of mine on a dating app; the fella expressed that "prayerfully" they would be able to get to know each other better. Something like that. Honestly, I got so caught up on the word that I completely lost focus on the rest of the message.
Thankfully, I wasn't the only one who was unacquainted with the expression. Prayerfully, according to dictionary means "devoutly, religiously. Prayerful." Which makes me wonder who wouldn't want to date such an intellectual gentleman? I bet my friend was so intrigued she couldn't help but to look up some fancy words and reach out to him. I bet they both would get along just fine trying to see who could impress the other the most!
This time, however, make no mistake. You’ve probably never seen the word aparty unless it was a typo. Nonetheless, that simply is the term I found to best describe our Zoom videoconference get togethers while the coronavirus keeps us apart. So I thought it would be a good idea to call it an aparty (apart + party = aparty).
Realizing the stress of the entire situation we are going through as a community, plus the fact that we can't even gather to take a break from the information and stats that keep piling weight on our shoulders, I had the idea to make it a theme aparty: a costume/dress up silly/wear creative attire to lighten up the mood. And of course, I included in the invite a reminder to "bring your own drink," since nowadays we all spend our grocery budgets on toilet paper, and no one can afford to host without financial contributions.
That being said, after the costume aparty was set up, the meeting ID and password sent, the excitement and anxiety started to build in some of the guests even a couple of days prior to the event.
"Nanda, first of all, are you a Zoom member? Because unless you are, you can't host a meeting for over 40 minutes. I would love to attend, but I'm sorry—I won't be dressing up and wasting my expensive make-up for a 40-minute meeting," Maril A. informed me in a private message.
As usual, being very kind, accepting of all and understanding the fact that she is quite demanding, Maril A. also recalled that she was the one who actually refused to bring salad to the Friendsgiving party. To please her, Nanda contacted J.T. and requested him, as a Zoom member, to host the party since Maril A., of all the friends, was suffering the most during the quarantine since marinas have been closed; not being able to attend her weekly yacht parties with her high-class besties was tough on her.
However, she was not the only one facing challenges. Lomes, who used to make a living out of delivering mail, was considering a career as a bank robber, but had been finding it difficult since every time he went to rob a bank, others who had the same idea arrived ahead of him. He hopes to have better luck in the future.
But if anyone was really in trouble, it had to be Frap. As a health care worker, he has been freaking out every morning before heading out to work since he just can’t decide which mask to pick: the unicorn, or the mermaid, the homemade one, or none at all. After all, he is an Ironman, not plastic-man, cardboard-man or stainless steel-man.
Apart from having to make a decision, he also has to deal with the concerns of single ladies who keep interrogating him about coronavirus stats regarding males over 40 being more susceptible than women, reducing the number of available prospects on the market. Realizing that in some ways he adds to the problem, he was left with no other choice but to change the subject and start an informative "wearing a mask for dummies” tutorial, which actually ended up working pretty well.
That didn’t concern Rose. She was busier focusing on how the quarantine was affecting her mental health. While guests were busy learning how to wear a mask correctly, she was confused with her self during the meetings with her conflicting personalities, unsure if she was a Star Wars character or a sea animal, finally deciding to go offline to make up her mind. We still haven't heard back from her on that.
Meanwhile, Alicia, who joined the meeting a bit later, was more concerned about staying in between her daughter and son-in-law to make sure they kept a six-foot distance during the quarantine. I guess she is not ready to become a grandmother. Not yet anyway!
Disil, on the other hand, has been having a great time since he still drives to work, fearless, and tries to find out if his customers are having issues with a virus. So far he has tested several computers and the antivirus has been working very well. Ecos, who also works in IT, was extremely distracted creating his own personal antivirus. At least he is certain he didn't get the coronavirus himself during the video conference.
Unlike Disil, the only one still going to the office to chat with his computers, Cravila has been isolated at home with no one to talk to for a long time. Apparently, she has been severely affected by this. Her ability to communicate vocally is compromised; the only words she said during the entire meeting were “mountain bike,” “hungry,” and “dinner,” respectively.
But she was able to endure the entire three-hour meeting, unlike Patrin who, after two glasses of wine, passed out on the couch. At least she admits it! Some others most likely drank an entire bottle of piña colada and vanished with no warning to later allege that they had to cook dinner for one of their kids. Sure, we believe you, Bella!
At least you didn't spend an entire hour saying you had to leave butnever would because you just couldn't stop drinking your wine, like Vanguilla.
"Bye, guys! I have to go. Oh, one more glass of wine! Now I really have to go. Wait! Just one more . . ." she kept repeating.
"Just go already!" an unidentified attendee shouted.
The truth is, only one of us has absolutely nothing to worry about: Raguila. After moving from Miami to one of the Carolina's, he took advantage of the beautiful weather to join the aparty from the beach where he was sunbathing under his sweater. Thankfully, it was the perfect weather to try some revolutionary, logic-defying aquatic exercises since, apparently, the water there is too clean for a former poopbeach-goer triathlete. Now he spends most of his time inland at his new place by the shore.
“It fits six people in my new house!” he repeatedly states excitedly every so often.
He can't wait for this coronavirus thing to go away to host our very first post-COVID-19 party! Hopefully, with the funds collected after his successful carpet ad as a cover model he will be able to afford a private jet for his fellas after he returns from his extravagant trip to the moon.
Well, for now . . . Thank you, J.T. for kindly hosting our aparties!
Cheers to us, guys!
By, the princess in quarantine.