In this strange time of “lockdown” we are meant to stay away from people. Not get too close. So we go about our business with this invisible divide between “us” and “them”.
I walked up to see my dad and there he was in his allotment, happily preparing the soil and doing all that gardening stuff I still struggle to understand. And there was this transparent yet very real fence between us - he was close and far all at the same time. And it reminded me of what the government keeps on saying - stay away, don’t get close. So I took out my phone and took this picture.
Later on, I looked at the picture and these words came to me reminding me that a story can be told with an image and words.
Social distancing
What does that really mean?
Keep six feet away, you never know what that person has got
Keep to yourself
Put on the mask
Put on the gloves
Stay away
But what about social interaction?
We weren’t created to be alone
To be untouched
Unseen
Unheard
So look across the six feet and reach out
To your loved ones far away
To the lonely stranger who catches your eye in the queue
Physically far but socially close
We can do this