Now’s the Time to Reach Out and (Virtually) Touch Someone

I’ve never been the most religious person (I’m more spiritual you could say) but I do go to synagogue like three days a year.

OK, maybe two.

Fine, more like one.

Let’s just leave it at I know where the synagogue is.

Two weeks ago, I made the best attempt I could to make a quarantined Passover. I couldn’t help but think how the Jews of yesteryears rubbed lamb’s blood on their front doors to protect their firstborn from the angel of death.

Seemed a bit extreme but no judgement here.

All those years watching The Ten Commandments I never really thought twice about it, other than admiring how good-looking that cast was. You had Charlton Heston, John Derek and even Yul Brynner (minus that weird braid on the side of his head).

OK, getting off point …

Passover growing up was a formal dinner, coat and ties, and a whole lot of people at my parents’ house. I remember my heart racing until I could get past the four questions (which I always had to sing) and laughing hysterically with my sisters at inside jokes about how hard it was to pronounce the words in the prayer book and which one of us was the wicked son.

(Not going to tell you who we picked)

But this Seder was not lighthearted. In fact, it almost felt like we were actually living out the real Passover in modern times.

So much so that the following occurred in my household…

As my fellow Jews know, my Seder plate required a lamb shank, which we didn’t have.

I mean, who really has lamb shanks readily available in their fridge, especially during a pandemic quarantine?

I certainly wasn’t going to search one out given the circumstances, so I felt Gd would be okay with one little substitute: the lamb chops I had on hand.

I can’t help but feel on some level that this coronavirus has a very plaguey feel to it.

(Is that even a word? Plaguey?)

I mean honestly, I saw hail the other day, there have been high winds and tornadoes, I know the lice aren’t far away, there’s a whole lot of darkness (not including everyone’s mood) and so much more.

Gotta be truthful when I say, this is kinda freaking the sh*t out of me.

So anyway, I took one of those lamb chops out of the fridge and wearing plastic gloves I rubbed that sucker up and down my front door like some ritualistic crazy woman.

Several members of my household did indeed witness this act and I’m not sure I’ll ever live it down.

But at this point I’m thinking biblical time rituals may just have some relevance here in 2020, and I’m okay with it.

I actually haven’t written a blog post for A SAMple of Love since the coronavirus hit. As a contributing writer now for SEEN Magazine, I’ve been writing for them instead. (Would love for you to follow them: http://seenthemagazine.com)

But for my personal blog, not so much.

Typically, my posts have a humorous undertone and there is really nothing funny about what’s going on other than Tik Tok and the fact that my body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant that I’m certain my pee cleans the toilet bowl on its own.

And the anxiety that this has caused everyone (myself included) has really impacted how I might want to share my words.

However, this is the most notable time for lending support and compassion and laughter and love. And as a writer, that is something I know I can do!!!

I’ve personally been in my home for more than six weeks, roughly about two weeks before we were actually ordered to shelter in place. I felt truly afraid the minute I heard there were cases in Michigan and panicked early on.

Now we are quarantined for who knows how long and it’s very hard on everyone.

Special occasions cancelled and postponed, schools solely online, jobs gone, businesses ruined, lives at stake, money lost, the healthcare system overwhelmed, loved ones on the front lines, the economy devastated, food scarce in places, no travel, days too long yet household obligations nonstop.

(Can we discuss the fact that the laundry multiples like wet Gremlins!?? What the actual #$%^)

No more sports, concerts, special (and not so) events, proms, graduations, milestones and even funerals. Some are moored in isolation, others are overly cramped. I’m not saying anything you don’t already know.

Then there’s the fear of becoming sick.

And for the more paranoid people…

OMG.

How many of you have had phantom symptoms daily?

Umpteen times a day the fear of getting COVID-19 creeps in our psyches like the fine lines and wrinkles that appear in your 40s.

(Out of nowhere)

So, the real basis of this post isn’t about pointing out all the bad things going on in the world, but more about what we do to make our days better and actually matter – besides cooking and exercising, cleaning, walking the dog, working from home, and feeling hopeless while watching the death toll climb on CNN.

(Not to mention watching my current heartthrobs, The Cuomos)

But more about what we can do to help others while also helping our families and ourselves.

By no means am I candy-coating what our todays are looking like, but rather pointing out that even in the face of crisis, there is always a silver lining.

Findings even suggest that those who survive a huge crisis tend to have three similar traits: adaptability, initiative and tenacity and even pass it down to their children.

So, what we can do to make life more bearable?

Reach out and reconnect with old friends who we’ve lost touch with; apologize to those we’ve possibly hurt; cook for someone who can’t and/or drop off food; call those who we know are lonely; donate, create or volunteer; say “I love you” to people who need to hear it; mend fences with those we’ve fought with; and stay calm and treat each other with love and respect.

COVID-19 can take away a lot of things away from us but it certainly can’t take away our connections with those we love.

So let’s make today count and come out of this better people tomorrow.

Be smart, be safe, and most importantly, please stay healthy.

Until next time,

Love,

Karin

Born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Karin has a BA in sociology, with a minor in psychology earning honors at Michigan State University. Along with certification in relationship coaching, Karin is an international blogger, past columnist and current contributing writer for SEEN Magazine. She is can be reached @[email protected].