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The “new normal” of physical distancing has created lots of chal- lenges, but perhaps none as hard on grandparents as the need to avoid contact with grandchildren. That’s certainly the case for my best friend. Her youngest grandchildren had been in the Louisiana hotbed of the Coronavirus before coming to her son’s home on her property in south Mississippi. They brought with them a high likelihood of exposure to the virus, if not an actual infection with it. Her compromised immune system forced her to tell them they couldn’t come over for a two-week quarantine period. Like so many grandparents, she considers her grandchildren to be the center of her world. Starving for some kind of contact with them, she wanted to at least see them, even if they couldn’t hug or be close. She found a solution in a good old south Mis- sissippi back porch, running the length of her home. Each evening during the quarantine, the kids came over for sup- per. They sat at one end of the porch. She served them on paper plates with disposable utensils and cups. She sat at the other end the porch with her food. At the end of each meal, they gathered their used items in a plastic grocery sack and took them home to Dad’s place for safe disposal. With air hugs and Dinah Shore-style thrown kisses across the length of the porch, the generations were able to connect with- out physical contact. They looked forward to a time when they could sit down at the same table again. In the meantime, dining back porch al fresco helped to get them through the quarantine days. If we learn no other lesson out of this pandemic, we have learned Love Wins. God’s love for us brings us through. Love for our fel- low man leads us to find ways to help each other within the con- fines of government guidelines. Our love for each other helps us find new ways to be in touch without touching. And Grandma’s love finds a way to the grandbabies! 20 SOUTHERN SENIOR MAGAZINE | Summer 2020 By Mary Beth Magee Author/Speaker Back Porch al Fresco 105 Hwy 11 S • Picayune 601-749-0756 • 601-273-1057 www.barzeantiquespicayune.com ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLES MALL Ted, the Tool Man, Does Lamp Repair! Preserving Yesterday’s Memories Collectibles and Books by Local Authors make Great Gifts! B arze’ P lace S Author/speaker Mary Beth Magee writes cozy Christian fiction, poetry, children’s books and devotions. For more on her writing and training sessions, visit her website: www.LOL4.net .