Later today, I will get on a Zoom call with family–parents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. It’ll start with quick hellos. Everyone will talk at once and then go quiet until someone says, “let’s play something!” We won’t talk about how we’re feeling–some are lonely, some are overwhelmed. We all want to be in each other’s places. The lock-down is affecting some marriages, some of us feel like we’re failing spectacularly at parenting, some desperately want to be parents and some only wish for a day without pain.
But we won’t talk about any of that.
We will, instead, play charades and laugh.
***
Why do we have families when we can’t open ourselves to them completely? Why do we put on masks of normalcy when deep down we are suffering?
Loved this slice of life piece, Hema!
Oh, I love this. And so true! 🙂
That sounds like a perfect way to deal with out current circumstancecs.
I agree. Hope you got my comment on your essay, Nancy. It disappeared after I clicked submit.
I love the way your family is managing a large group hang out. My small family does weekly meets and can manage great conversation, but with your large group charades sounds like the perfect solution. I’ll bet this will make some great memories.
I love the brevity of the piece. SO much packed into a concise essay.
Thank you so much!