Virtually Connected Islands

Dear Reader,

The poet John Donne once wrote —“No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main.” Basically he was saying that we are all connected.

For years now we have reveled in so many events and gatherings together – sports, concerts, classes, picnics, parks, boating and the list could go on. That all has since changed since the coronavirus attack.

When you get right down to it, we just want to be together in some way shape or form. We want to share parts of our thoughts, dreams, and lives in whatever ways possible. But in doing so, we also want to feel safe in the process.

Recently we started using virtual methods like Blue-Jeans and Zoom to stay in touch with family and friend meetings. We started with one that included about 40 people/locations with everyone updating their situations from wherever they were.

Most recently we added a “Tasty Libations” happy hour and are now able to visit and just let our hair down a little. These Happy Hours are truly happy because in a way we are all sharing and socializing together though each in the comfort of our own dwellings.

We weren’t meant to be islands and so American ingenuity kicks in because necessity is the mother of invention. And now we’ve invented the virtual Happy Hour. Ideally we would all gather at our favorite watering holes but if they’re closed, this is a semi-viable alternative.

Patrick Wood
Publisher