FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 23, 2020 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
vschneps@gmail.com
It’s been a week of zoom meetings,
telecommunication
meetings and even some fun.
Th e fun came in on April 16
when we celebrated my daughter
Elizabeth’s birthday — a
“landmark” one. Th e celebration
began by having a huge
sign placed at dawn on my lawn
that read “HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ELIZABETH.”
My daughter Samantha placed
the order for the sign and we
gave them an art deco design
order. It was like little elves arriving
because when I opened my
door at 8 a.m., they had the sign
sitting boldly on sticks into my
grass. When my daughter saw it,
the smile on her face lit up the
world for me and my grandkids.
Since celebrating birthdays the
old fashioned way — with dozens
of family and friends gathering
together — is over, I experienced
a new kind of celebration
for my daughter and sonin
law Spencer’s April 19 birthday.
Creative minds enabled us
to celebrate in new ways.
As I stood on my lawn at a designated
time, I suddenly turned
to see down my block, there
before my eyes were rows aft er
rows of cars with horns honking
and kids almost falling out
of windows and sunroofs to
celebrate!
Th e cars were lined up as far
as my eyes could see. I felt tears
coming down my cheeks because
I loved their smiles, laughs, posters
and balloons all streaming
from their cars. Th e joy and
positive energy they brought
brightened the day beyond my
expectations.
Aft er Elizabeth’s friends’ cars
had passed, then came the cars
with Josh, Tracy and his family,
followed by Samantha,
Spencer and her kids.
Th e slowly passing
parade of friends
ended with my kids
stopping their cars and
getting out to celebrate
while keeping their
distance.
I loved seeing 7-yearold
Hudson doing
cartwheels competing
with his 8-yearold
cousin Addy
across the street.
Little 4-year-old
Sloane found fun by running
up and down my acrossthe
street neighbor’s lawn. It’s
remarkable that such a simple
thing can bring kids so much
fun. Th eir joy kept smiles on
all of our faces. It felt so good
to laugh!
A few days later, we all gathered
in our cars to do a driveby
at Spencer’s birthday celebration.
Samantha placed a chair
for me on her walkway close to
everyone, but far enough away
to be safe.
But the reality of life during
this COVID-19 pandemic soon
kicked in.
Hours aft er the joyous celebration,
I learned that Brooklyn
Judge Noach Dear, a delightful
and devoted community leader
and Supreme Court Judge,
had succumbed to the virus. As
did his colleague, Judge Johnny
Lee Baynes. So sad to lose such
great minds.
Losing so many reminds us
that we must stay vigilant and
that isolation is a safety net for
ourselves and our loved ones.
It’s not easy, but it’s worth it to
stay alive and open our eyes to
another day.
Victoria’s
DIARY
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
tweet me @vschneps
Carrying on, just diff erently
Samantha joins the celebration and stands a
good six feet behind Elizabeth’s birthday sign.
Morgan climbed
on top of the car to
keep her distance
and have fun.
Birthday girl
Elizabeth adored
her virtual party.
”Now is not the end.
It is not even the
beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the
end of the beginning.”
This Winston Churchill quote
still rings true today.
Finding fun with
social distance.
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