Social Distancing

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, my friend Sue and her husband Kim went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hawaii. In February. OMG...

Depending on how you look at it -- their timing was PERFECT. I mean -- who knows when anybody will feel comfortable planning that kind of trip again?

Although, when they got home, they had to self-quarantine for 14 days...but the good news is THEY WERE FINE...they had a wonderful time.

I was glad they were okay, and anxious to hear about their trip.

Sue and Kim maintain their 5-acre yard like it was a public park...

The good news is, it's Spring in Iowa and we are having some GORGEOUS WEATHER...after months of our sucky winter -- everybody is anxious to get outside and ENJOY the mild temperatures and spring breezes coming our way.

So, even though they live in this HUGE HOUSE...I waited until they completed their mandatory travel quarantine...then, we eagerly scheduled an OUTDOOR visit...

But there will be no shoulder-to-shoulder contact, people...THIS WAS WAY BACK THEN...when Marion was visiting from Canada...and we took all that personal shoulder-to-shoulder contact for granted...

THIS IS NOW. The three of us sat out on their large patio...six feet apart...

We had a wonderful visit...despite the distance.

And, here's my point...this is our new normal. At least for now. Until the people way smarter than us figure this thing out.  So, yes, we have limits.  No restaurants, no public gatherings, no big parties, no mall shopping or arena events.  I get it...really...I get it.

But the way to get through it is to HANG ON TO THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER TO YOU...because you want them to be there at the end of this thing.  Of course, knowing how the virus spreads, we must use common sense.  No big group events, no close contact, masks when you're in the grocery store or a closed in public space, 6 ft. of   "social distancing" when you are outside, at a park or in a grocery store.  But YOU CAN DO ALL THAT.  DO NOT shutter yourself away, terrified of the apocalypse.  Because this is your life...

Stay in touch with the people who matter to you...go old school -- make phone calls.....you will be surprised how good it feels to have a real old fashioned CONVERSATION.  Or --  how about this -- SEND LETTERS.  All that stuff you've been sorting through?   SNAIL MAIL some packages with all that treasure to your distant relatives...

OR -- go all New Age -- embrace ZOOM, or Google Hangout...or Libby -- that wonderful library app...

My friend Donna says she is learning something new every day.  Remember you have those free classes at Craftsy (now Blueprint)...