While most of us long for the days where we could leave our homes without arming ourselves with hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes and face masks, it appears that getting back to “normal” varies based on your status and income level.
For reality star and socialite Kim Kardashian, pretending things were normal on her 40th birthday this week consisted of surprising her “closest inner circle,” which is quite large, with a trip to a private island.
“After two weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time,” Kardashian wrote on Twitter Tuesday.
To be fair, my private island getaways are something I’ve also missed deeply during the pandemic. But there’s a time and place for such an extravagant birthday celebration and 2020 is not one of those times.
And how large is Kardashian’s inner circle? Mine consists of like two to five people depending on how open I’m feeling on any particular day.
By comparison, my birthday celebration this year with my “closest inner circle” consisted of a FaceTime call with two of my friends. Getting back to normal would involve drinking a glass of wine or cocktail at a bar or restaurant during a birthday celebration, instead of on a virtual call.
In all seriousness, the tweet and accompanying photos of such an extravagant, crowded celebration was a bit tone deaf considering the struggles that people across the country are facing right now.
Getting back to normal for some people right now consists of getting back to work after being laid off and being able to see people who don’t live in their household again, such as their friends and family, or their own “closest inner circle.”
Many of us have sacrificed our own birthday celebrations and will not be joining our families, immediate or extended, for this year’s holidays.
And for those who have been impacted financially by the pandemic, the expenses that come with travel are simply not an option, as their concerns lie with being able to afford rent and groceries.
After receiving a significant amount of backlash, Kardashian sent a subsequent tweet about how she recognized her privilege, but some may have interpreted it as another excuse to post additional pictures from her trip.
“We danced, rode bikes, swam near whales, kayaked, watched a movie on the beach and so much more,” said Kardashian. “I realize for most people, this is something that is out of reach right now, so in moments like these, I am humbly reminded of how privileged my life is. #thisis40.”
In the meantime, the rest of us will be humbled by our own brief moments of normalcy, which in contrast, includes taking a walk outside, visiting a restaurant, or seeing other humans in person after months of quarantine.
