We are in a bubble of social distancing with another family. We started with back yard visits, moved on to bbqs with separate tables and condiments, and have finally allowed our children to sleep over at each other’s houses. And then last week a miscommunication happened and we all found ourselves exposed to some other people. Some of my bubble had our masks, but others didn’t and we did our best to distance. It was a strange situation and none of us really knew what to do or how to act.
What was great about this moment is that it caused our family to hold a meeting to evaluate our risks and talk about what we were and weren’t comfortable with at this stage of the coronavirus pandemic. I have to admit I haven’t been washing my hands as much as I was in March, but I am better about wearing a mask even when just out for a walk in the neighborhood. So we talked through our family preferences in a number of areas, my husband happy to still wipe down groceries and packages even though he doesn’t see the need, because it matters to our daughter and I.
Then we had to decide what to do with our bubble. We as a family made some decisions and then I took a deep breath and I called my bestie. We had a lovely long conversation about the whole situation and I told her all about our family meeting. We agreed to some things and then went over to their back yard for a socially distanced bubble meeting, which she led. Our whole bubble was able to talk about what we are doing and how we are behaving in the world and to agree on a return to some of our precautions just until after we’re sure our accidental exposure didn’t get any of us sick.
This is what real community looks like. This ability to talk through difficult things like social distancing and to hold one another accountable to the health of the whole is vital to actually being a healthy community. What one of us does could have huge impacts on the others. It is vital that we agree and trust each other. This is the kind of community we are building here in Southeast Portland too. One that talks about the big stuff of life with one another. A community that realizes each of our actions affects others. A group of people who trust and agree to the boundaries so that all might thrive in the community. It’s hard work and requires that we are vulnerable, that we allow ourselves to submit to one another, and that we speak up when we are uncomfortable with the actions of another. Yet the life and relationship that comes from this work is something holy and special.
-Eilidh
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