Looking Forward

I hope this will over as soon as possible. I search for the number of infected patient everyday, it hurts to see more and more people are infected :(

Yesterday I had a friend over for dinner (in Germany we are still allowed to meet privately) and we couldn’t touch. I even cried about it, because it was so hard. Sometimes I’m not sure how people will survive weeks of quarantine. Lots of love to all of you out there.

My boyfriend and I are long distance and don’t get to see each other very often as we both have the budgets of recent college grads and my grad school schedule doesn’t leave me with a lot of time to travel. Because of the state-wide shelter in place orders here in CA, I had to cancel my flight to visit him this week, meaning I won’t see him in person until the shelter in place is lifted/I can safely and responsibly travel again. Definitely missing those hugs! But fortunately we have FaceTime and it’s been so heartwarming to see folks coming together online and showing me I’m not alone in missing my partner! Take care everyone xoxo

I’m going to give so many big hugs when this is over!! I’m single and not usually much of a touch person, but I’m noticing things I miss: a hug of greeting from my best friend, holding a kiddo as I volunteer in the church nursery, the buzz of hanging out in a coffee shop that’s full of lives to eavesdrop on….

Yesterday my 33 year old son texted that he was running to the store and did we need anything? I had been the runner a couple of days earlier so this was a nice treat for me. I responded: lettuce, celery, nectarines, strawberries. When he dropped a package with strawberries an hour later, I reacted as if I hadn’t tasted any in a few years. I rinsed them and arranged them on a small white platter, much like a still life, and placed them on the dinner table. Despite my resolve, I swiped one; couldn’t help it. Then I realized what I was doing: rationing. I was preparing to ration, as this seems to me to be a definite possibility, and soon. But my mind and my heart are slightly ahead of the reality, so I’m rationing now. Probably all of us are.

I don’t live alone, but my dear husband is still working, so his return at the end of the day truly feels like the finish of a small marathon. The hugs come easily enough. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live without them.

My heart goes out to anyone living alone right now. In my imagination I am hugging you all. I hope that helps, a little.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be mad if we did away with handshakes and fist bumps altogether once we get through all of this. High anxiety means I often have sweaty palms, and knowing that I might have to shake someone’s hand just makes it worse. Plus, it’s kind of gross.

Absolutely! But in some strange way, I feel more connected than ever this week. I’ve done a ton of virtual happy hours with friends all over the globe, have talked to my parents every single day, have ongoing meme/joke sharing with colleagues, have organized virtual playdates for my son, have joined DJ livestreams/virtual dance parties and I even have a virtual date tonight (we met up IRL last week before everything got shut down, tonight we’ll FaceTime over drinks. He suggested sharing playlists beforehand and doing computer-generated Truth or Dare and horoscope readings – I’m excited!). People are getting really creative and resourceful and finding new ways to connect. That gives me hope.

I’m wondering- can we have a post on sex during this outbreak and what’s recommended? My husband and I have no idea what’s considered appropriate during this interesting time and there are minimal resources available online. Thought it would make for an interesting discussion around what’s safe and what isn’t for singles, couples, married couples, whether self isolating solo or with your spouse, and with people you live with if you’re both under quarantine. Thanks for considering!

Love this.

I don’t currently live with any other humans, only one truly excellent pupper. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at how hard the lack of human contact and touch has hit me, but it has hit me really hard. Mainly, I’m really craving a hug. Maybe I should have bought a weighted blanket or something before this all hit, but oh man, I need a hug to help me calm down a bit.

I have a bunch of wonderful friends, and we’ve been doing a lot of video chats (which I previously kind of loathed), which has been helping. I’m committed to doing the right thing and to sticking to proper social distancing, and I know that I’m really lucky in a lot of ways right now, but this has, and I think will continue to be very hard.

We have a couple of big birthdays coming up during quarantine. Any ideas for businesses who ship to make them smile?

When watching TV (as you do a lot these days), I find myself astonished when I see people touch or kiss. Don’t they know we should keep distance!?! That realization makes me feel brainwashed.

I’m not yet in in true lock down, like my friends in CA, but practicing social distancing and staying home. Twice this week my friend group has had a “happy hour” that turned into several hours and it has been THE BEST THING. We meander through topics and occasionally turn to our gripes with this whole crisis, but it’s just really nice to see their faces and be together after putting our kids to bed, or shutting down the work computers and connecting with each other. I’ve stayed up later than I have in a long time and it is worth it, knowing that some of them are in their apartments on their own for several more weeks. I encourage us all to reach out to friends and throw the life preserver!

I will give better, longer, stronger, deeper, warmer hugs than ever!!! Brb gonna go dance around to the Beatles’ “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” now ;)

Considering my love language is physical touch– yes. With friends I haven’t seen in weeks: hand on a shoulder, the top of a hand, a knee, a hug of any length.

My kids and I read books every day– sitting in laps, shoulders and arms snuggling, hands brushing, and lots of kisses, naturally. That helps.

All of this is such a powerful wake up call to what matters most in life. I’m sending love to everyone across the globe right now. Collective support is real. Take sweet and gentle care, each and every one.

I’m in one EU country, my family’s in the other. The borders have been closed. I’m glad to have a partner and to be able to snuggle, but my sister doesn’t have a that. Really can’t wait to give her a hug, brush her hair and just catch up in person, even though we’ve been facetiming several times a day since the lockdowns.