Connected
The gifts of The Glitter Storm

Photo by Mar Bustos on Unsplash

My granddaughters live in the next state over. It’s about 270 miles from my doorstep to theirs. Back in the day when planes flew — it was a thirty-nine-minute direct flight.

I would visit them every other month or so. There were always reasons. Holidays, birthdays, date nights for Mom and Dad, long weekends which demanded a retreat from my day-to-day, Thursday…it didn’t take much for me to hop a plane to their house.

Enter COVID. The day before I was due to go visit them. For a week.

To say we were all incredibly disappointed would be a severe understatement. But interestingly enough a new dynamic has formed in These Days while we wait out The Glitter Storm — as my daughter so gently explained viral transmission so that even the four-year-old knew the importance of a thorough hand-washing.

The Glitter Storm has provided us with an opportunity to connect daily via texts and more FaceTime. As all our worlds slowed to the pace of quarantine — we found ourselves reaching out to each other naturally. Daily.

Today I had texts from all three. This evening we had a FaceTime session to update each other on our afternoons and dinner experiences. All the while, joy was shared, hope was given, reassurances and love served out in heaping measures.

This steady contact is settling into a lovely routine for us. A touchstone that lets each of us know we are all ok. This is particularly important to The Magical Creatures.

But this isn’t just for little Humans. I also have realized my oldest sister has upped her texting game since COVID. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t hear from her as well.

Receiving these short, frequent, deliberate messages of love has become a vital part of my day. They have grounded me and connected me to the Humans I cherish.

The quiet of These Days have gifted me with meaningful conversations with Humans I love. It has given all of us a chance to share our day-to-day existence in real, if virtual, time. It has allowed us to lean on each other just enough.

May your silver lining be as precious. May love sustain you through whatever burdens you bear in These Days. May you and all those whom you cherish be safe.

Until at last, The Glitter Storm passes.

Namaste.
['Ann Litts']
['Technology', 'Family', 'Self-awareness', 'Love', 'Grandmother']