As I write today, it is a dreary, rainy and 40-degree day in March. There is a pandemic ravaging our world and we are being told to practice social distancing. Rather than just being gloomy and crabby, Larry and I decided to visit our two great-granddaughters (ages three and five) to bring them a little silliness and joy on a dreary day.

But since we couldn’t do what we usually do – go to their house and hug them and play with them – we had to be creative. So, we made signs that said, “Smile”, “Act Silly!”, “Act Crabby”, “Act Scary” and “We Love You!” Then we went to their home, and as they watched from their window, we paraded outside with our signs.  We really got into it, acting out the different signs’ messages in silly ways.

I really do not know who had the most fun:  our sweet little girls—or us? My granddaughter Ashlee said, “Did you drive all the way over here just to do this?!” She told us that the girls were feeling a little blue earlier in the day. The signs (and the sight of Grandma and Grandpa acting silly!) perked them right up.

During the pandemic there have been many stories of younger people holding up signs outside of elderly people’s homes. It was so fun to “flip the script” and be the people on the other side of the window – safely, of course. How special to still be able to care from a distance.

For more ideas on how to care while staying safe during a pandemic, see our articles on social distancing.