The stay-at-home order has just been extended to May 8, and judging from the three-phase reopening plan, at least some of us will be staying at home into June. I feel stir-crazy and yet I don’t want to go anywhere I usually would, like a grocery or home improvement store. Instead my kids and I have really enjoyed walking, riding our bikes and playing games. 

We’ve had several long walks where we analyze mailboxes: Does it have a nice design? Does it match the house? Go with the landscaping? We have all agreed that most people don’t put a lot of thought into their mailbox, with a few outstanding exceptions. We’ve biked around the neighborhood, to pick up take-out, and to the park, and we even found a significant shortcut out of our subdivision, although it does require riding our bikes over a private yard that borders our neighborhood. We’re analyzing if we can bike through a wooded area instead, anticipating a time when the homeowner actually sees us and it does not go over well. We’ve played card games, educational games that my parents mailed us as soon as learning physical school was out, and Monopoly. I resisted playing Monopoly at first, because as a kid, I always lost or I didn’t have the patience to play to the end. However, my son told me it was his favorite game—I wonder who he played it with?—so I agreed. We just keep the board out and play when we feel like it over several days, and I kind of like Monopoly now.

We even set corona-goals, something we’d like to accomplish in our time off. My son’s is to learn “Counting Stars” on the trombone, my daughter’s is to play “Ode to Joy” on the piano, and mine is to complete the unfinished room in our house. From the way things are looking, I’m the one most at risk of not meeting set goal.

How about you? What are some of the cherished activities that have come out of your household’s stay-at-home time? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll post your comments on our website.

Due to the pandemic, the reduced number of distribution sites and readers’ hesitancy to pick up print magazines, we have combined the May and June issues into one. Please visit AwakeningCharlotte.com for immune-system support specials, COVID-19 and stay-at-home resources and all May and June articles.

At this time, there are roughly 12,000 reported COVID-19 cases in North Carolina and approximately 450 deaths. Our thoughts are with all those directly affected by this pandemic.

Wishing you a loving and kind May (and Mother’s Day) and June (and Father’s Day),