Stories of Celebration During COVID-19

//// By: Harisa Paco, MSW, LICSW, CMC ////

During March and April our whole world saw this pandemic wreak havoc on our lives. And yet, I’ve been amazed by creative ways that people have celebrated while social distancing. It feels like we’re constantly being bombarded by bad news, it’s tough to think about the current status of our cities, our country, and the world.

And so, to keep us in good spirits, and remember the good work that some have done, here is a compilation of stories of celebration from across the globe. May and June are usually big celebration months — we hope you take inspiration from these stories and find ways to celebrate every day.

Birthdays

• NJ man turns 100 with big, social distant, party

Families with loved ones in LTC

• ‘I love you, Mama’: COVID-19 and glass separate Kansas daughter and mom turning 100 from The Kansas City Star
• Tennessee man puts on sidewalk concert for his elderly mother, residents at locked-down facility
• Man uses his company’s bucket truck to visit mom quarantined on 3rd floor of nursing home

Intergenerational

• To Battle Isolation, Elders and Children Connect as Pen Pals from the New York Times
• ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’: Stuffed animal scavenger hunts are making life bearable for bored kids
• Boy plays Tic-Tac-Toe with grandpa through glass door while practicing ‘social distancing’

Music and Dance

• World War II Navy pilot Chuck Franzke, 97, of Waukesha, WI came out to his porch to dance to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t stop the feeling” while he stays home with his wife.
• Stayin’ Alive! How music has fought pandemics for over 2,700 years from The Guardian
• Music stars are live-streaming at-home concerts for fans in isolation because of coronavirus from CBS News

SomeGoodNews with John Krasinski

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug

Teachers reaching out to their students

• Florida teacher makes social distant house call to check on depressed student
• Math teacher shows up at student’s front porch to give her a one-on-one lesson while social distancing

Thanking Frontline workers during the pandemic

• ‘Joyful noise’ rings out in Seattle as people show support for workers on front lines of crisis

About the Author: Harisa Paco, MSW, LICSW, CMC is a Certified Care Manager at Aging Wisdom in Seattle, WA. Harisa also serves on the Western Region Chapter Board of Directors in the role of secretary and is the local unit co-chair in Seattle. Harisa is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow (Seattle Chapter), class of 2018 and is the president of Seattle City Rotaract. In her free time, Harisa enjoys spending time with her nephews and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.