A first time distant birthday : Corona Diary March 28 ' 2020

Today is my grand mother's birthday. She turned 91, a very bold and beautiful lady who is well respected and loved by people in our village. She lives with my parents since 10 years. Today I called her to wish her and the first thing she told me is that in her life time this is a first experience of celebrating a birthday without the presence of any of her children / grand children / grand grand children. She was lucky that my parents are with her as always.

Everyone called her up on phone, video calls etc. to convey their wishes and all those who called talked only about Corona. That's what the virus did to the entire world. All are held up at various places due to Covid Lock down. Even neighbours did not turn up as everyone is practicing social distancing.

Social distancing is the need of the hour and for a person like her, whatever is seen happening in the entire world in television channels and newspapers is an entirely new phenomenon. Social distancing is a public health safety intervention used to reduce the likelihood of transmitting communicable diseases. She remembered that during her adolescents age there was polio, small pox etc. but this is even deadlier than them.

As she said that this is the first time she experienced a distant birthday in her 90s, i expressed that last week was my friend's daughter's first birthday and that was celebrated in a simple way without inviting any one.

Corona days is giving people new experiences and day by day we are learning new concepts which is well practiced by others.

#distancing #newexperiences #birthday #publichealthsafety #coronadiary