I had dinner with a couple at a restaurant (Clyde's at Mark Center, for those who know the area) last Saturday, two weeks after my second Pfizer. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea, but my friends, who have also reached maximum vaccine protection, wanted very much to do this. The husband, an old friend and former colleague whom I've known for 40+ years, is ill and frail, and has been undergoing chemotherapy. He was eager to get out and enjoy himself now that he has been vaccinated. It's not clear to me how much protection the vaccine gives to those who are immunocompromised, but I didn't raise the question, and I wanted to contribute to his enjoyment of life at this point. We had a pleasant evening, though the restaurant was less than half-full, and it was somewhat depressing remembering how lively it used to be pre-Covid.
Now that I have maximum protection (but not complete protection, of course), I'm feeling more comfortable going to grocery stores and even dispensing with a mask in outdoor settings where I'm not in close contact with anyone else. I may try outside seating at restaurants, but I'm not sure I want to spend time inside. Pre-Covid I used to enjoy sitting at the bar when eating in a restaurant, but you can't do that here, and, as I discovered last Saturday, the atmosphere in half-deserted restaurants is not particularly convivial. I've picked up take-out all through the past twelve months, and I'll continue to do that.
