Unique 4th of July, 2020

Happy 4th of July! I said this holiday greeting to my children and grandchildren by phone today. However, is it really a happy day in the pandemic? Where are the fireworks, the barbeques, and the parades? Family traditions are turned upside down again. We already celebrated Easter in unique ways during the coronavirus. I spent it in a Thai condo with my husband where we ordered a Thai meal delivered to our door. We called our families on Skype and thought life would return to normal soon. Instead, times have gotten even stranger since then. We are all still staying close to home. The first confirmed COVID-19 case was in November 2019 in China and spread to Thailand and then to the U.S. by January 2020. The first American coronavirus death was in February 2020. We moved back home to the U.S. in April on one of the last flights out of Thailand. The U.S. now has the most number of recorded worldwide COVID-19 cases as of today, July 4th. Our country needs to trace and track people who have the disease in order to stop it. Is this really a Happy 4th?

Yes, it is in a unique way. Even though we still wear face masks and don’t shake hands with our neighbors, we are friendly to each other. We shout hello from six feet away and promise to get together when the virus is over. When will that be? It seems to have made a comeback in China where it all started eight months ago. The number of cases is spreading exponentially around the world. Restaurants and bars are desperate for business and setting up extra tables to dine in the streets. I limit my news reports to morning and night. Otherwise, it can set off alarm bells.

The 4th of July is a time to celebrate freedom, family, and enjoy summer food. My mom always watched the Wimbleton Tennis Championships with strawberries and scones in front of the TV. She also organized a grandchildren’s bike parade with red, white, and blue decorations. I just found a photo of her leading the way as the pied piper on the 4th of July long ago. We are all trying to create memories for our families this year too. We carry on our family traditions of barbeques, swimming, and strawberry shortcakes. It is up to us to celebrate our country’s birthday at home in our own way. We can shut out politics and focus on our families, love, and health. Stay home away from the crowds and watch the fireworks on TV. It is our new normal. Nothing stays the same.

Almost eight months have gone by since the coronavirus rocked our world. Listen to the facts and focus on the future. What can you do to keep yourself and your family safe? Wash your hands and don’t touch your face. Wearing a mask has become political, but we need to switch the focus back to a healthy choice. We have to focus on our nation’s safety and welfare. Wearing a mask is the smart way to stop the spread of germs. We need to inform each other if we have been exposed to the virus and stay home for 14 days if we have. There are stories of people not showing the signs of COVID19 while spreading germs in public spaces. We can all do our best to keep everyone healthy in our space. Stay safe and enjoy this unique July 4, 2020! Nothing stays the same.