“Getting to Know You”

By

Gerry Niskern

Just as I was finally adjusting to life alone, the Pandemic hit. In the early days of Coronavirus 19 I learned to live with “sheltering in” and isolating from everyone. I envied those who was able to get out and go biking, hiking or many other out door activities. Being inside so much was really frustrating.

The health risks, loss of job and political ruin for the country itself seemed without end. But this new way of living also  brought many acts of kindness. Friends called to ask if I needed masks or gloves. A good neighbor had already brought some.

I had phone calls that kept my spirits up. My Grandson called almost every morning just to say hi on his way to  his first job. The good neighbor called every evening before bedtime. However the sight/presence of real live people was what I desperately craved.

And that’s when my two sons came thru for me. One had recently retired and his wife worked from home so they were able to totally isolate. The other son was furloughed from his job and he kept isolated also. One came over in midweek and the other came on the weekend.

I soon began to realize that this pandemic was a gift in disguise! Suddenly both sons  had time,  precious time, unexpected time. Politics dominated for a while. But then our long talks drifted to explore family history and stories. Facts were cleared up about who lived when and where. We talked about food. The  kind that I made when they were kids and the kind that Grandma made, and what out favorite was.

Two hours drifted into three and sometimes four. We covered world events, our different philosophies  about mankind and human behavior. I answered many questions about my and their dad’s childhood, courtship and early marriage.

One son and his wife invited me for dinner occasionally and I was free to go because they had been isolated. It was a welcome break to be in another home.

The other son brought lunch on the weekend and played a board game with me because he knew how much I missed playing games with friends.

Our family always had large gatherings at Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holidays and lots of fun catching up on the news. But quick, short chats were more the norm and  never really knowing much about individuals lives was not satisfying. Then suddenly, the pandemic hit, and  we had unexpected time. Lots of time.

I’m grateful I was  given this chance to know the men my two sons had become.