Connection-the spice of life: that which makes it all matter. Connection is what I’ve most missed since the onset of this pandemic. And the connection to my family is what I most crave.
Like so many other families with members dispersed across the globe, my family and I have had to be creative in finding ways to spend time together virtually. Once we began to realize that the end of this pandemic may actually not be in close sight, we began to search for other ways in which we could connect. Our daily check-ins and “how are-you”s, became longer chatting sessions, which eventually turned into meals. When we were eating dinner, my parents and brothers and their respective families were eating their breakfast. The meals eventually spilled over into a shared story time and at times, game-time and eventually move-time. Soon the virtual world held such a prominent space within our own physical space. There were moments, when we actually forgot the miles of distance that physically separated us and enjoyed the shared space that we had created. In that created space, we shared some beautifully honest and openly authentic moments: conversations that I knew would never ave occurred if we were physically in the same space. We had allowed ourselves to become more open, more vulnerable, because we had no idea when next we would be able to see each other again in person. And that feeling: that mixture of longing and love and fear created a beautiful vulnerability, which completely altered our relationship to something even more special and dear.
My dear Brother offered to read a book to my daughter virtually while he read to his own, in their living room. On one of his reading sessions, I headed into the kitchen to complete our bagels for our move night. I looked over at my daughter deeply engaged, and taking in each word that my brother was reading over the computer.
I was overwhelmed by a feeling love and gratitude: for the moment: for the shared space. I made quite a few batches of bagels, and shared a few with my neighbors. My neighbors declared them to be the best that they had ever tasted, and I would agree, if I might add. I’m pretty certain they were reacting to the feelings of love and gratitude that was baked into them.
