Friday, January 14, 2022

Favorite Pre-Pandemic Pastime

Drawing on New York City subways used to be my favorite pre-pandemic pastime. It used to calm me and make me pay more attention to life around me. I haven't done it in a while and gave it a try again recently. It feels different, but I like how it makes me feel a little bit closer to other people in a city of strangers. 

Thanks for reading

[3-panel comic of a girl with braid, remembering her favorite pre-pandemic pastime. Panel 1, black and white frame of a girl sketching in a subway car: "My favorite pre-pandemic pastime used to be drawing on the subway." Panel two, full color, girl wearing a mask, standing stiffly on the subway, not touching anything. Text reads: "I haven't felt at ease enough to do it in a couple of years. Recently, I pulled out a sketchbook again on a long subway ride." Panel 3, full color, wide angle frame of a subway car of people, mostly wearing masks. Girl sits in the subway car with a sketchbook on her lap. Text reads: "Of course, nothing is the same anymore, but it did remind me of how much I miss -- [she crinkles eyes] -- creepily watching other people." Although the scene implies that the pandemic is ongoing, there is also a coziness in the subway car of people just living their lives. Two masked young people share a "shimmy of laughter."]

3-panel comic of a girl with braid, remembering her favorite pre-pandemic pastime. Panel 1, black and white frame of a girl sketching in a subway car: "My favorite pre-pandemic pastime used to be drawing on the subway." Panel two, full color, girl wearing a mask, standing stiffly on the subway, not touching anything. Text reads: "I haven't felt at ease enough to do it in a couple of years. Recently, I pulled out a sketchbook again on a long subway ride." Panel 3, full color, wide angle frame of a subway car of people, mostly wearing masks. Girl sits in the subway car with a sketchbook on her lap. Text reads: "Of course, nothing is the same anymore, but it did remind me of how much I miss -- [she crinkles eyes] -- creepily watching other people." Although the scene implies that the pandemic is ongoing, there is also a coziness in the subway car of people living their lives. Two masked young people share a "shimmy of laughter." Autobio diary comic by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie


3 comments:

anna in spain said...

And like here, there's always that one young man who won't wear a mask on mass transport!

Robert said...


Good eye, Anna, and good catch.

"My favorite pre-pandemic activity.."

It makes for an interesting question. What was your favorite pre-pandemic memory?

I can hardly remember what my favorite pre-pandemic activity was.

I loved going to the movies. I went to a Bogart/Bacall film where the audience (full house) stood and cheered at the ending. That was an electric memorable moment.

Being with friends at dinner was nice. Studying.

I hardly remember. Scary.

We need to remember as Connie has done here.

anna in spain said...

Being able to see my friends' faces from the nose down.
Having a job.
Feeling the air on my cheeks and chin.
Going to a tapas bar or a restaurant just because, having a job, I could afford it.