Dancing in the Street

This pandemic has revealed so much of us as a society. Like you, I’ve seen some craziness I would never think would be a part of the American fabric. For example, weeks of rioting and civil unrest across the country in cities like Portland, Oregon, Kenosha, Wisconsin and Denver, Colorado have resulted in deaths and injuries to rioters and law enforcement alike. Political divides have widened making people think twice before voicing their viewpoints for fear of retribution at the worst or being shunned at the least. And who would have thought that wearing a mask, or not wearing one, would be tantamount to making a political statement? I was befuddled to learn of a friend’s high school age student who interpreted the wearing of a red, white and blue facemask as a declaration of support for President Trump (this is a patriotic, pro-Biden household). Parents are caught in the push-pull of overseeing the distance teaching protocols by local schools versus the possibility of sending their offspring back into the classroom.

There are no easy answers to these conundrums and societal ills.

But all is not lost. Remember when the pandemic first started back in March? That was just before Easter and, despite my disappointment at not being with family, I gloved and masked up to wipe down Easter baskets before filling them with store bought, individually wrapped goodies for the family. For the first time I bought my Easter dinner, ordered at Gelson’s in La Cañada, rather than cooking a big holiday meal. It was drizzling that day and I had to wait outside the store on a designated ‘X’ before being invited inside to pick up my items. I brought dinner to my mother-in-law and another older friend who wouldn’t have family over either.

On social media were plenty of offers – for no pay – to shop for high-risk neighbors who were fearful of catching the virus if they left their homes to shop for themselves. On local sidewalks there were notes in chalk of good cheer left by children and seen by people who were out walking; after all, there was little else to do after seeing everything that streaming TV services had to offer.

Churches, eager to stay connected to their congregations, populated YouTube with video services and streamed them in real time.

On Saturday night I had an opportunity to take part in another outreach. Local musician David Blasucci has a nearly weekly concert in the driveway at Dyer and Mary streets in La Crescenta. The audience is made up of neighbors who, like Steve and me, love (and sorely miss) live music. We all brought our lawn chairs, picked out a spot on either side of the street, and settled in for a two-hour set. We listened to musicians on guitar, bass, drums and keyboard accompanying great vocalists as they entertained us with songs like “Landslide” and “Downtown.” You know the night is a success when people get up and dance in the middle of the street.

Times are difficult and can be downright hard – but I’m thankful that it doesn’t take too much for me to look around, catch my breath and find something that reminds me that not everything stinks.

  robin goldsworthy