Honor and Remembrance: Having Fun During Coronavirus

Honor and Remembrance: Having Fun During Coronavirus

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted all of us.  So many of us are/know frontline and essential workers, lost their job, family that's been infected, co-workers who've been hospitalized, and friend that passed away.  While health and travel restriction prevent us in joining the National COVID-19 Remembrance on October 4th in Washington, D.C., there are other ways we can honor and celebrate.  Here are some ideas.

1) Share Something of Sentimental Value - My grandpa use to snail mail me short letters.  Usually, just asking how I'm doing, a description of the weather, and maybe information about family or an upcoming holiday.  I accidentally saved most of them by using them as bookmarks or leaving them in a drawer.  After he passed away I found all my replies in his dresser.  Now when I miss him, all I have to do is read his letters.  But, you can share anything and use the hashtag: #NationalCovidRemembrance  

2) Support Their Cause - Is a friend or family member a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare worker in need of PPE?  Maybe the person you'd like to honor had a charity that was close to their heart.  You could donate to that cause.  Better yet, have an online fundraiser.  With Facebook, it's never been easier: Facebook Fundraising Creator - https://www.facebook.com/fundraiser/with_presence/create_dialog/?source=blue_bar_create_menu

3) Plant A Living Memorial - Plant a tree, a few flowers, or whole garden for someone.  You could order a custom sign from Etsy or make your own.  Here's a great website for autumn plantings: Garden Design - https://www.gardendesign.com/autumn/planting.html#:~:text=Fast%2Dgrowing%20root%20veggies%20such,see%20No%2DFail%20Fall%20Crops.  

4) Host a Zoom/Facetime/Hangout Event - The people we love also had many other people that loved them too.  So, invite them to get together and remember the good times.  Invite participation by asking for stories, photos, favorite songs, and cheers them over their favorite food and drinks.  

5) Make Public Art - Make signs thanking essential/frontline workers, cover your driveway in chalk blue hearts, create drawings for the windows of your home.   

6) Tradition - Rituals and traditions are a way to strengthen the bonds of friends and family.  What new tradition could you celebrate in their honor?  Is their an important date for them, like a birthday?  What locations were special to them?  Allow for flexibility and encourage fun ideas.

7) Join the National COVID-19 Remembrance - Add your loved one to the memorial tribute at: https://nationalcovidremembrance.org/actions/wall-of-remembrance/

Find way to help your friends, family, and nation at: https://nationalcovidremembrance.org/actions/email-signup/

and visit:

https://nationalcovidremembrance.org/

October 4, 2020, Noon - 1:00 EDT

The Ellipse, Washington, D.C.

The livestream event will feature a National Moment of Silence on October 4th at Noon EST, live and recorded performances, a virtual tribute wall, a remembrance of victims and family of COVID-19, and more.

We will get through this stronger together.

More Having Fun During Coronavirus

https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/covid-19coronavirus-resources.html

Health and Safety Considerations for gathering:

1) No indoor activities

2) No sharing bathrooms

3) Wash hands before and after gathering. Don't touch your face.

4) Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, and utensils.

5) Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.

6) Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).

7) Wear a mask and practice social distancing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html)

8) Limit attendance. Check local health department for guidelines and restrictions.

9) Talk with everyone about comfort levels. Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations.

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

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