The Special Moments I Keep Noticing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

I saw it when I went for a walk with my daughter. It was a cool spring afternoon, a rare day when the sun was actually shining. She was zipping along the sidewalk on her scooter, 10 feet ahead of me. Her pink bike helmet bobbing up and down as she propelled herself forward. We passed by an elderly couple who moved to the other side of the street, waving hello from a safe physical distance. A few blocks later my daughter stopped in front of a house and pointed to the front window. “Look mom, a rainbow,” she said.

We discovered more pictures of rainbows as we wandered up and down our neighborhood streets. As well as drawings of stars and hearts, and letters thanking postal workers, delivery people and health care professionals, all visible from the street. It was like a public gallery displaying children’s artwork of hope. When we got home we painted some rainbows on construction paper and hung them up in our window too.

I saw it when I went to the grocery store this week as everyone patiently waited in line for their turn to enter the store. Once inside they cautiously kept six feet apart while selecting their apples and bananas, lettuce and potatoes. People were wearing face masks and nodding their appreciation. After wandering down the baking aisle in search of supplies, I caught the attention of a store clerk pushing a cart loaded with canned tomatoes in the opposite direction. “Where can I find the yeast?” I asked from a far.

“We’ve been sold out for weeks. I guess everyone is trying to bake bread.” he said. I laughed because that was exactly what I wanted to do. I immediately imagined parents across the city spending quality time in the kitchen with their kids. Slowing down enough to make a time consuming batch of bread, waiting for it to rise, punching it down and then waiting for it to rise again. I pictured them pulling a warm loaf out of the oven, slathering it with butter and delighting in eating something they created together.

I see it everywhere I look as COVID-19 threatens our lives. Our city has virtually shut down, there is hardly any traffic on the roads and no one is at the parks. Everyone is staying home to keep each other safe. I see the love in our actions. I see hope in the support we offer one another. I see the connections we are making with our family as we are forced to slow down. I see our city and our country coming together as a community like never before. What could be more amazing than that? There is definitely something special in the air.