The reality of celebrating special occasions under stay-at-home orders during a pandemic and social distancing recommendations is different.
Some people are going the parade route, with would-be party attendees driving by the birthday celebrator’s house displaying signs, dropping off presents, honking horns and showing support.
Recently, Virginia Stancliff, “Aunt Ginny” to many, turned 80, so her family decided to make it a joyous occasion involving all of the bells and whistles one can use with social media while practicing social distancing.
The buildup to the big day was also full of fun: every Friday since people have been asked to self-quarantine, members of the Stancliff family (from Florida, Kentucky and Ohio) have been playing games on Zoom, with a different theme each week.
The week of her birthday in May, “Aunt Ginny’s” daughters, Jody Stancliff, who lives in Kentucky, and Beverly Stancliff Norberg, of Florida, needed a little help to make their mother’s 80th birthday special.
“So, we passed out a letter to everyone in the neighboring condos asking them to join us to sing happy birthday to Aunt Ginny and then asked the police to lead us out with lights and bullhorns as her family watched on Zoom,” explained her niece, Krista Harding, who lives in Yellow Springs and helped the family organize the event.
The event unfolded as planned, as neighbors socially distanced and made Stancliif and her husband Harold smile.
“She is the sweetest most gentle person there is … . She has a servant’s heart and loves her family and friends well. We are so blessed to have her as a mom, grandmother and mother-in-law,” Norberg said.
Jody Stancliff echoed her sister’s thoughts, “Happy 80th birthday to the best mom on the planet. She is a true Proverbs 31 woman with a kind heart and industrious spirit. Love you, Mom.”
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