Commentary by Lorene Burkhart
Sometimes, being deprived causes us to appreciate what we’ve been missing so much more when it’s restored. This is especially true now as the floodgates have opened and we’re back to gathering in small and large groups.
Everywhere I’ve been in the past few weeks, someone will comment on how great it is to be with one another, in person, again. Zoom served a purpose, but it just wasn’t the same.
It has reminded me of our family reunion annual picnics when I was growing up. We would gather at Gregg Park in Vincennes for our pitch-in Sunday dinner. I eventually named the cake I always made, “Reunion Cake.”
If it was my mother’s family, it was Bobe reunions; my father’s family, McCormick’s. After waiting an hour, the kids would go swimming at Rainbow Beach, a circular pool with a sandy beach. It was hilarious to see the “farm boy” tans – tans from the waist up with their white legs. They wore no shirts with their jeans while they worked in the fields.
I hope that the younger generation values the opportunities to connect in person with friends and family and that they don’t think social media is a replacement for being in person.
Research shows that social connection is very important to the health and well-being of the elderly. Medicine is one thing, love is another.
Cherish each moment you have with those you love.
