So Corona virus huh? As if there is anything else on people's minds. Who would’ve thought the entire world would be staying inside avoiding each other in 2020? 

Overall this sucks. From the minor inconveniences of not being able to get a haircut or go to a yoga class to the very serious consequences of industries tanking and people dying but I don’t need to tell you that.  

Somewhere in between is the social isolation. There is a mood in the air. It’s an eerie feeling but at the same time it's easy…. “Like Sunday morning” to steal from The Commodores. My normally extremely busy city street full of foot traffic, sirens, and car horns now is a somber and still empty road. The city lights that dot the high rise buildings of downtown Denver are barely illuminated.  Like a scene from an apocalypse movie. The sound of this silence is different from the normal quiet. But what is normal anymore? 

Normally, my daughters are in school from 8:30 - 5:30 each day. So I only really see them for a few hours in the morning and then again at night. Spending all day has taken its toll on me but also caused me to grow closer in a short time. So there are a few silver linings. 

Last week my daughter Sarah called me from her bedroom while playing…. “Daddy?!”

“Yes, Sarah?” I called back…

“I love you.“ she said

My heart exploded. 

She just called to say I love you. 

It made me think of the song by Stevie Wonder “I just called to say I love you. I just called to say how much I care.” What a beautiful sentiment it is to let someone know you’re thinking of them during all of this.  

The more I’ve sat and literally twiddled my thumbs at times looking for something else to do, I realized that now is the perfect time to pick up the phone and call someone or Facetime them, google hangout, text them, send an email, or just to say you love them. I even started writing handwritten letters every morning to someone (If you’d like one, get a hold of me via Instagram or Facebook) . 

I don't need to tell you to utilize your technology to communicate with others. Video conferencing has moved from being en vogue to essential. I’ve never Facetimed anyone other than my parents and my kids. In the past weeks I’ve been on Facetime, Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams, Instagram, Facebook, Whats App, and Marco Polo with dozens of people.

We know this won't last forever but we don’t know how long it will last and it is a real drag. I’m bummed out, people are down and need a boost. People walk 6 feet apart from each other, are avoidant and guarded yet there is still a maintained odd sense of community. 

We are now naturally inclined to push towards our neighbors for support especially when a lot of us didn't know our neighbors before. The 8:00 howl, the clapping and cheering for healthcare workers, - Tiger King. We are connecting at all different endpoints. There is a human spirit staying alive and working towards making efforts of bonding and camaraderie. We are wired to be connected. We crave it and we ultimately need it as much as water, air, and shelter. 

A dad in my daughters class set up a Zoom call with all the students and it was the cutest thing. They were all talking over each other and could barely maintain a consistent conversation. Simultaneously, my 5 year old was on call with her friend following Maggie around the house and showing her friend everything from the plants to what was in the fridge. It changed the mood of my girls that day. They needed it too. 

By a raise of hands how many of you have virtually hung out with someone you may not have normally done a call with? We are looking for excuses to call others and have never had a better opportunity to reach out to our fellow brothers and sisters in this world. I think people want more of it. 

I’ll leave you with the lyrics from Mr. Wonder himself to hopefully push you to more of it.  

No first of spring, no song to sing. 

In fact here's just another ordinary day. 

No April rain, no flowers bloom, no wedding Saturday within the month of June. 

But what it is, is something true made up of these words that I must say to you. 

I just called to say I love you. 

I just called to say how much I care. 

I just called to say, I love you. 

And I mean it from the bottom of my heart.