It’s About Time for Face to Face Time

“Face-to-face interaction is vital: a tea date, a walk together--anything in person so that two sets of eyes can gaze upon each other and arms can reach out in a warm embrace, exchanging energy.” Madisyn Taylor in “Unmedicated: The Four Pillars of Natural Wellness.”

When this whole pandemic thing began, Rafi and Emily gave us all early birthday presents. They sent us these amazing portals created by Facebook where we can call each other and video chat. We can do that also with our phones, but this has a larger screen, and it’s much more simple to use. So simple, in fact, that even abuela was able to program it with just a little bit of help from her techie grandson. It’s been nice having these group chats every Sunday night. The Facebook portal is so much fun that we can change our faces, wear silly hats, and do a bunch of other silly things, with just the touch of a button. But after almost three months of face timing through a computer, I am so ready for some face to face time. There is nothing like the human connection, and I am craving it big time.

These three months of social isolation, have provided a lot of thinking time. It’s funny, because I used to talk with other adults from my generation and older how the younger generation was too attached to their electronics. “They spend so little time face to face that they are becoming robots,” we used to comment. And here we are. By force, we were propelled into having to do exactly the same thing. Most of us started working from home. The only face time we had with our coworkers has been through a computer screen. Kids have had no face to face time interaction with other kids. They’ve had to finish their school year by watching their teacher and their classmates through a computer screen. We have attended mass from our living rooms or bedrooms, watching live streamed masses from our parishes. I have seen my own children from afar. We have visited them from our car, throwing kisses and virtual hugs through the window. They might as well live in a different state. I’ve spent pretty much the same amount of time with the ones that live in Miami as I’ve spent with the ones that live in New York. And all through a computer screen.

And yet, amidst all this separation, some positive things have emerged. Kids that once were so hooked on electronics are craving face to face time as much as we do. Yes, even little ones are missing their friends and their teachers. Those of us that were so focused on climbing the ladder that we had forgotten how to live, have realized that living is more important than work. We have lost a lot of people with this pandemic, almost 400,000 around the world and we are not done yet. This has made us realize how vulnerable we are. Our lives can change in one second. We can be here one minute and gone the next. This has made us realize that we need to enjoy every moment, and that sometimes, the simple things are the ones we miss the most.

This pandemic has also shown us the strength of the human spirit. We have seen over and over again, doctors and nurses caring for total strangers in the hospitals, but not just doing it because it’s their job, but doing it with love. In spite of the fear that they themselves could get infected, they have marched on, with uncomfortable gear that covers them from head to toe, wearing masks that have burned their faces, and yet, they are still at the frontlines doing what they need to do. And when a patient gets cured, they have stood on the hallways applauding and cheering because they were able to save one and they are sending that patient home with a bang. These patients have become part of their family, and for these patients, the nurses and doctors have been the only face that they have seen while being confined in the hospital.

I see the service workers around my neighborhood emptying trash cans, cleaning and disinfecting all the public places, and most of them with a smile on their faces while performing such difficult jobs during this crisis. While the restaurants were closed, some workers would stand outside showing us their menus and sharing their specials so they could provide us with a hot meal while at the same time making sure that they could pay their next month’s rent. And many restaurants added unbelievable items to their menus: “a free roll of toilet paper with every take out order.” Yes, when push came to shove, the strength of the human spirit prevailed.

But now that our world is slowly reopening and returning to some sort of normalcy, even if we have to wear masks wherever we go, and we need to continue keeping our distances, I am so ready for some face to face time. I don’t want to attend mass virtually anymore. I want to be present in a church and receive communion sacramentally, not spiritually. I want to go to lunch with my mom and with friends. I want to go back to work at the office and see my co-workers in person, not through a Zoom conference. And I’ve had it with seeing my kids through an electronic device, as much fun as it’s been. I want to see them face to face. I want to be with them. I want to share a meal with them, in person, not virtually. I need that human contact. I need to hug them. I need to kiss them. We humans are so much more than a hashtag. It’s about time for face to face time.

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.