before and now 106/366

Corona 
before: I thought it was hard liquor, found out was a light beer
now it is what comes before the name of a Pandemic virus-19

ZOOM
before: was the noise my sons made as they raced their cars across the floor
now it is a way to communicate with people

"Mommmm", from Devin, across the parking lot 
before: was an invitation to stop and visit or "wait up, I'll walk with you"
now it is the visit

I knew things were not as they once were
not for me
not for you
not for anyone
but I didn't realize how deeply felt the change was for me until the last 24 hours

yesterday I heard "mommmmm"
and even though we were easily 100 yards apart,
an air hug felt almost like the real thing

and today, 
when I saw two people that far ahead of me walking around a loop,
I felt like I wasn't walking alone
until we "passed" one another
and the closer we got to being parallel 
the closer to the surface my tears moved
and the line from an old Hank Williams song came to mind...
"I'm so lonesome, I could cry..."
(I was going to post the song, but it is really, really, really sad)

a women's ministry team Zoom meeting from 2-3 this afternoon
an outreach team Zoom meeting from 8-10 this evening
texts, emails, messages...
for now, these are close interactions and they'll have to do,
but, 
this is fair warning for those of you who live close
as soon as the all clear comes, 
I'mma need a huge, same day barbeque picnic/party (or two) 
and a real, long, wrapped up tight, bear hug