This week, I was able to see my mother after a year of limited contact.
Of course, we’ve seen each other throughout the pandemic but it was usually outside and distanced for short visits. We’ve talked on the phone almost every other day.
But this week I was able to spend time with her inside my childhood home. We cooked together, got lost in conversation, and reconnected in a way that has been a long time coming!
As I was driving home tonight, I started to feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time: a deep, familiar comfort with real joy.
My mom and I both felt that as people start to see one another again, this feeling of joy will make a positive change in our communities. How can it not?
And though we were still very cautious (both of us spent the days prior to seeing each other in strict isolation and we decided to each do a covid test, just to be sure), it was absolutely worth it. Because we knew we were gathering responsibly and with very minimal risk, we were able to relax and focus on our time together without any residual, nagging worry.
We hope you get to experience some wonderful reunions soon!