By Ann von Dehsen, June 11, 2020 — Though I know the pandemic is far from over, yesterday was probably my best day since we went into lockdown because I saw and heard signs of hope along with a few rays of normalcy. En route to my daughter’s house, I passed the newly reopened Seger playground, where I saw kids happily playing and blowing bubbles and heard their giggles and laughter. Across from the playground, were tail-wagging dogs in the dog park, running and chasing each other as if in celebration.
Back on South Street, I was very happy to see my young friends, Holden and Jeremy, reopening their store Pretty Green Terrariums, a business that was in its infancy when the closures went into effect. I continued down Warnock St. where I saw people arranging plants in their window boxes and a young man gently strumming his guitar. And now on Catharine St., I stopped for a quick water break at the park next to Fleisher. There I saw a group of young mothers of many colors with their babies in strollers practicing mass social distancing as they talked and laughed across the benches.
Finally, I arrived at my daughter’s house, where the doorway was covered with balloons, which at first signified hope, but more importantly, celebrated my grandson Max’s 6th Birthday. This was the reason for my first up-close and personal visit since March, instead of our usual, across the street, masked visits. After the approved, opposite-facing grandmother hug, and a quick look at Max’s presents, I went right out the back door to the small patio where my daughter had resurrected Max’s baby pool so we could all sit around it and splash each other. My son-in-law Gabe joined us later because he was at Le Virtu, the restaurant that employs him, helping to set up outside dining for its reopening [for the upcoming] weekend — so that was more good news. After enjoying pizza, which never tasted so good, and a Harry Potter birthday cake, I started my walk home, realizing that finally, finally, I felt alive again. That’s what made it so nice.
But I also thought afterward, I hope once we go back to more normalcy that I still notice these things. Like in normal times before this, I was walking down Warnock St. I would not have maybe noticed that people were planting their window boxes, and a guy was playing guitar — I would have been in a rush. I would have sort of noticed it, but now, I feel like we are noticing more things, which is maybe a good thing, and taking the time to hear. To hear kids laughing.