“Memorable Moments” with friends

It is worth noting and remembering the 2020,  July 14 evening at the German Society of Pennsylvania (GSP) where physical distancing and distant socializing were a unique experience. The evening was lead by two meeting hosts, one physically in Germany where it was 2 to 3 hours past midnight and one in the Leidy Terrace garden area of the GSP in Philadelphia with an approximate local start time of 7:00 PM. In attendance were professional musician friends who practiced in the garden area, members of their families and members of the German Society’s KA-Contact group that met every Tuesday evening via Zoom since the end of March, the start of the Covid-19 restrictions.

During most of the second part of this evening’s Zoom meeting, the participants shared the stories of their current week and recalled memorable moments of past years in Germany, Austria and the Banat. The current Philadelphia to Germany travel experience of the host who is now in Germany was discussed in detail.

Those who were physically present in the garden area socialized with proper distancing and enjoyed the music which could not be transmitted satisfactorily via Zoom.

All of this is taking place safely while Covid-19 weekly deaths per 100k of population in the USA is more than twenty times that of Germany and as Philadelphia announced the cancellation of all major events and parades through January 2021.

It is worth noting that – even in these complicated times – we can still create and enjoy good and uplifting memorable moments with friends.