Safe Gathering

Safe, Social Gathering

It has been a long time since I wrote. Things have changed.

 I started a new series called The Smokies, as a way to protest the current public health messaging (or lack-there-of) among growing infections and increased transmissibility.

 

We also upped our precautions. First and foremost, we mask outside now. We used to not mask if we could keep a good distance and it was not crowded, but as the variants get more contagious, and require less time and amount to give infectious dose, we decided it was necessary to mask even outside. Plus, people do not give distance as well anymore, making masking even more important as we also constantly back up and walk around and reminding others we need distance too. The other thing is, we really want other to be masked as well, as one-way masking really isn't enough, especially for longer than an hour, and especially if inside. We want two-way masking inside and outside, along with distance/ventilation. 

We recently celebrated my son, Tommy's, birthday and Halloween (in one Spooky Birthday Gathering). I only had close family come (6 people in total, 3 households) and we did it outside. We required (and handed out) n-95 or equivalent masks. We had tables spaced 10-15 feet apart for brief unmasked eating, where each household was at their own table. I had bagged snacks and individual serving food, so no buffets or anything, just me delivering some stuff to each table so as to prevent close congregation or people all touching utensils. I had sanitizer and wipes but not everyone used them. We did. But certain things are up to each household. My main thing was that we mask and distance. We had a puppet show, a craft, music, and a scavenger hunt, all things we could do together that were safe and distanced and fine to do with masks. 

At one point it started downpouring and lightning out of nowhere. So I let everyone go inside our house. They all were masked. I had seating spaced out inside. I turned on our CR-Box and two HEPA purifiers. We had to be inside for about 30 minutes while the storm cleared (we used this time to open presents). So it is good to be prepared for stuff like that (that storm was not in the weather forecast!). 

Planning really helps. Communicating clearly helps. Keeping the group small helps. And having contingency plans help. With those things, you are a rockstar, hosting an awesome rock show that is safe and fun!