Today, I Miss Corner Bakery

I'm trying hard not to whine today. It would be highly hypocritical if I did because I'm definitely one who supports continued social distancing. I think the decision to reopen certain public establishments and allow larger gatherings was dangerously premature, and now I'm even more terrified of this stupid virus than I was before. I am staying home. Other than my social-distanced walking regimen and sitting in wide-open parks eating takeout, I'm home.

That said, today, I'm also missing Corner Bakery. Once upon a time, I wasn't a fan of Corner Bakery, because I loved Paradise Bakery so much that I couldn't imagine switching. Paradise holds so many memories, even from way back before I lived in Utah. One time in 2009, when I was here visiting Shulamith, her internet was down, and we had to go to Paradise to get online.

But then in 2017, this happened. No more Paradise. I had to make a change, and that change turned out to be Corner Bakery by Fashion Place Mall in Murray. Corner Bakery is my respite from the world, especially during times when I have lots of grading to do. Here are some reasons why: grilled egg, cheese, and avocado paninis; pumpkin muffins; endless Diet Coke fountain with good ice; zero distractions from my family.

The semester at SLCC officially ended yesterday. That means the pressure's on to get stuff graded in order to submit final grades by the deadline next week. Where would I typically do this? Corner Bakery! No doubt under normal circumstances, I would spend many hours there in the next few days.

Instead, I'm stuck at home. There are no grilled egg, cheese, and avocado paninis here. There are no pumpkin muffins. There is no Diet Coke fountain, only dumb cans that get warm way too fast because I get involved in reading essays and forget to drink.

And let's talk about distractions. The biggest one these days is a ludicrous TV show called Survivor. We've already established that I'm a reality TV failure, but this one is particularly bad. Like most reality TV, every Survivor episode is the same. A bunch of emaciated people (because producers starve them half to death) are stuck out in some remote swampland, where it's so hot, they hardly wear any clothes. They do inane physical challenges in order to escape being voted off the island at the end of the show, or they find some statue thing that gives them immunity. Yep, it's as silly as it sounds. But you haven't even heard the worst part: the show is Rated "S." Indeed, those disgusting creatures are all over the place, popping up unexpectedly, plotting to give heart attacks to ophidiophobes like me.

For some reason, the newly returned Elder Erichsen (aka Seth) has decided to watch all 40 seasons of this S-rated show, one after the other, and Isaiah, who is "working from home," is rewatching all of them with him. Guys, it's literally the only show on my family room TV. Ever. For days. Which means I can't be in my family room. I'm banished to my bedroom to grade all this stuff.

Now I know what you're thinking: "Terrianne, it's your house. It's your family room. It's your TV." All true. But you see, I love these two guys so much. My heart delights at their simultaneous laughter when something funny happens on the show. (How could anything funny happen on this show? No idea.) Nevertheless, they didn't see each other for nearly 20 months. They missed each other. Sooner than later, Isaiah will go back to working at his office. Seth will go away to college. Despite the circumstances that created it, we will cherish the good parts of this quarantine, and this is one memory I will cherish.

I know I will. Just not so much today. Today, I miss Corner Bakery.