My Journal of a COVID-19 Year, Day 38: “I’ve had enough of just passing by life With the rest of them With the best of them”

I know that I am often late for cultural phenomena, so today’s topic might be yesterday’s scoop.

Today I learned about “Drive-by Parties.” While driving through my neighborhood, I was caught behind a procession of cars with signs and balloons and horns blazing. When I got home, I asked a friend about this, and the text I received back was, “Oh, that’s a drive-by party. Haven’t you seen those?” (I hadn’t).

Apparently friends of someone celebrating a birthday or other occasion arrange for a time to all drive by the house to “celebrate” from a safe distance. It is a way to help those with quarantine birthdays feel a little less isolated, and I’m sure it’s great for families to get out of the house for a little bit. It must feel like a little bit of deliberate craziness in a world of random craziness.

Now, I can’t say that what I observed was the most socially distanced behavior. Many cars had windows open, some with kids hanging out of them. I even saw a few people getting out or dropping off gifts. I decided to believe that their overflowing enthusiasm would not have consequences due to birthday magic.

But, don’t we all deserve our own personal parade these days? I’ve been isolated for six weeks, and many people have gone longer than that. I am blessed to have a parade of support and love march across my text screen daily, but I miss real people. The drive-by party reminds us that tender hearts remain even when bodies are behind walls, or behind windshields.

Of course as I passed the house, I honked and waved. I didn’t recognize the person, but I recognized that need.

Be safe, be strong.