Alone?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. Most likely others have as well. It is Thanksgiving, after all, and at this time of gathering – people, families, crops and harvests, et. al. – many will not be physically together this year. What’s worse, the December Holidays will be similarly affected by COVID.

But then, I remember when I was a kid, back in the 40’s and 50’s. We had newspapers, Life and Post magazines (weekly?), the radio and TV. TV was fairly new in our home; I think Christmas 1955. National news, even world news was a 15-minute affair nightly. Hardly connected to the global village but we felt so. Of course, the concept of global village was not as well defined then as it is today.

Of course, we had the phone. Our family was spread across the United States. Grandparents in Minnesota and California; aunts and uncles in Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, cousins and what not relations scattered well and far through the 48 states. Yes, 48!

You know where I’m going with this logic. Today in 2020 we have instant global communication complete with sound and live television (and in full color!). Internet connections are exacting to the second and centimeter. We can dial up and talk to anyone we wish to at any time using modern technology. And the news? It is 24/7/365. Furthermore, news can be drilled down into micro phrases of facts and timing. We have the world at our fingertips.

We are not alone. We are present in one another’s lives. Not just memories, but Zoom, Facetime, and all the rest connect us. Our interests are connected as well. We are not alone in our thinking or feeling. We can reach out and satisfy our curiosity, our need for information, and our discussion with trusted allies.

There is still an ache, isn’t there? A sense of separation where once there was companionship.

A favored friend from church called a few weeks back. She said it was time to share dinner again, and she was bringing it with her to us. Dinner for four! And we said yes. The first thing she did after putting down the bags of hot steamy food, was grab each of us in a hug to remember.

We were together. We could feel one another in whole space and time. It was a delicious moment!

That is the alone meant by the title of this post. We are alone in the sense of physical presence and touch. Family is distant whether across the street or across the nation. No matter the miles of separation, we long to touch. Somehow it makes the real, real.

The pandemic takes its toll in many ways. But truly alone is not one of them. We have many methods to use in battling separation and distance from our loved ones. Employ those methods. Spark memories of when you were last together. Savor the sense of connection.

It is as real as you make it.

Then know this separation will one day end. My only wonder is how our immune systems will take sudden socializing? Will we come down with a major winter cold? All of us?

Ah well! That is a small price to pay for being together once again. Hold onto that thought. One day it will be true.

November 25, 2020