b'THE BOTTOM LINEThe Thrillof it AllThe highs and lows of my late-lifedigital retail transformationBy Andr MorriseauA s we continue to ride the ongoing waves of COVID-19, our world has acquired new spending habits while rolling with the immense challenges of changing timesand technology. Before COVID, I had never really purchased anything online. Once the pandemic arrived, however, I was buying cases of wine from Wine Online like a proanything to stave off my early paralyzing fear of going to the liquor store. My first purchase was a case of wines from around the world. Resplendent with five whites, six reds, and of course a sparkling, it was an adventure in isolation. Each new bottle was like taking flight without ever leaving home.Before long I discovered Amazon and found myself increasingly indulging in online retail therapy. I became addicted to the sound of my door buzzer. Looking out from my second-floor Victorian bay window (my new work-from-home office), I felt like an anxious pup waiting for my new best friendthe Fedex delivery man. Also new, at least to me, was keeping up with all the latest shows on offer with the countless streaming services out there. Amazon Prime Video gave me Pose and Its A Sin, Netflix provided the oh-so-elegant Halston, while Apple TV delivered Schmigadoon! Dont let the name of the last one scare youits an amazing parody of musicals from the Golden Age. When better to enjoy such camp than in a pandemic?Each show was better than the next, and they all conveniently added to my growing list of monthly charges. My rationale was firm: What else would we have to talk about during the seemingly endless COVID lockdowns??I had never been interested in gift giving either, but I am now. A renewed faith in consumerism has guided my fingers like a Ouija board on firemuch to the delight of family and friends. Another new indulgence became buying flowers online for, well, just about everyonefrom the vet to family members who Id never before gifted with flowers, or even thought to do so. Trendy shops in the Village with play-on-word names like New Leaf and Lady Bug Florist brought rainbows of colour into the locked-down-and-out in my precious world.And the thrill of UberEats made dining for one a far tastier affair than Kraft Dinner in a darkened room lit by the pale blue screen. It also increased my interest in supporting local restaurants like Hair of the Dog and OGradys. Yes, my burger habit was altruistic in nature,I reasoned.COVID ultimately forced oldish people like me to embrace the wonder of the online world with all its glorious convenience. I learned how to do online banking so I could track the slow-burn nervous breakdown of my own economic awareness, not to mention my bulging Visa bill and corresponding broadening waistline.Another exciting pastime was attending online galas and shopping the silent auctions. The creativity of some of these virtual venues, and the entertainment they delivered, has been impressive. The Mayors Evening for the Arts was amazing, especially when experienced from the comfort of my own couch. The truly winning aspect of these events was that you could bring your own booze, bypass hailing cabs in the cold and, best of all, you only had to dress one half of your body. Issue 2 2021 | QBiz CANADA |29'