THUNDER BAY – In the midst of a global pandemic that requires physical distance, staying connected can take a bit of creativity. For Natasha Agostino, whose birthday-obsessed daughter Loxley turned three over the weekend, the extra effort is worth it.
With a traditional party out of the question, Agostino put out an invite to close friends and family to celebrate from a distance with a mini-parade. From cars festooned with colourful signs, balloons, and one bubble machine, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and family friends waved and shouted birthday wishes through windows as they passed.
The gesture went a long way to making another day at home feel special for Loxley, Agostino said.
“She’s absolutely obsessed with birthday parties, so she would have been devastated not to have anything,” said Agostino. “I figured some sort of celebration would be better than nothing.”
At three, her daughter grasps the need for distancing, she said – but it’s still a struggle being apart.
“We just explained to her that there’s bugs and germs that could make you very sick, and we need to keep ourselves and everybody safe – that’s why we need to keep a distance,” she said. “She understands that part, but when she sees [friends and family] it’s hard, because she wants to go hug them.”
It’s uncertain when that will again be possible, but in the meantime, the family said little efforts like the parade go a long way.
“There’s a lot of negative things going around right now,” said Agostino, “but this is something we’ll hold onto for some light for a very long time.”
