Readjusting expectations may take a minute

For many families in the region, Mother’s Day this year was very different from that day last year. The same can be said for upcoming Memorial Day  activities and Father’s Day celebrations, all the way to the Fourth of July and beyond. In 2020, traditions that were pretty much taken for granted over the years had to be put on hold and hadn’t been picked up until now, a year later, with more and more of us fully vaccinated and the weather warming up just enough to allow outdoor gatherings as part of normal life. The pandemic may finally be losing its grip on society, with caveats allowing for continuing safety and care as necessary for everyone’s health.

By now, most of us have become very accustomed to automatically adjusting our expectations for safe social interaction, but that certainly hasn’t made it easier. We have, though, seen the results of keeping distance and wearing masks not only in slowing the spread of COVID, but also that of the flu, colds and other viruses. When we start to come closer together, it will be inevitable that such infections will once again begin to pass among us. So there will need to be a balance between wanting to avoid such illnesses but also wanting to get together once again with friends and family.

Now seems like a good time to make up a wish list of all those things we have missed the most in the past year and plan ways to make them happen. Those who have missed going out to restaurants and seeing friends there have been filling up the lawns and patios, as well as the interiors, of area eateries, enjoying the new openness they can experience after a COVID closed winter. But with more and more cultural and musical events opening for the summer again, and selling out as quickly as they announce their schedules, it will take planning and quick action to take part in them. 

For those who have lost loved ones or contracted the disease during the past year, seeing the world start to open widely again may not be something that they can immediately accept, still suffering from those repercussions. But it could be that having the ability to connect with others again will them give comfort and support after struggling through the pandemic. 

So here’s to a spring and summer that are full of safe but welcoming gatherings of all kinds, to bolster recovery of those who have been directly affected by the pandemic. And really, one way or another, isn’t that all of us?