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Staying Apart, Together: You want to help? So do I.

Kelly Lawler   | Paste BN

In times of societal upheaval and crisis, it's easy to feel helpless. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created its own unique way of making us feel useless and alone. Often the best thing we can do to help fight this awful virus is to stay home and forgo the social interaction and normalcy we crave. It's not nearly as active as what our grandparents did in World War II – serving in the armed forces overseas, organizing scrap metal drives and working in factories. The version of that today – staying home, wearing a mask, staying at least six feet apart from your neighbor on a walk – has very little catharsis. 

But the good news is you can do more. Texting a friend who lives alone is doing something. Ordering takeout from a local restaurant is something. Donating to a food bank or a mutual aid fund is something. Video chatting with your grandparents is something. 

This week I found myself constantly texting friends and family who live in Florida and Arizona. I want to pay for them to get groceries delivered so they don't have to go to the store. I want to send them memes to cheer them up. I want to try to distract their kids on Facetime for just 30 minutes so they can watch a TV show written for adults. 

The pandemic may have taken much from us, but we still have a lot left to give to each other. And that can keep us going. 

Today's inspiration

Need a little optimism in your life? The owners of the company that makes T-shirts bearing the slogan "Life Is Good" have been trying to inject positivity in the world for over 25 years, and it was working. But then 2020 arrived. 

But, working with their employees and technology to make the manufacture and distribution of their t-shirts safe, brothers and company co-founders Bert and John Jacobs were able to keep the company alive and avoid layoffs, a true achievement in this economy. They spoke with reporter Derek Catron about the story of their quarantine business, and it's the kind of heartwarming tale we need right now:

"We brought in nurses. We set up stations 10 feet apart," Jacobs said, with staggered shifts. "It's been three months, and we don't have any cases. We've been fortunate so far." ... 

New designs include drawings of animals with the message "Wash your paws" or "Stay calm, stay cool, stay home." A design for graduates bore the inscription, "Class of 2020: 'Virtually' the greatest class of all time."

"That one went crazy," Jacobs said.

Another home run: a baseball shirt with the message, "Longest Rain Delay in History: 2020." ... 

"We’re fortunate to have built up a community of what we call 'rational optimists,'" Jacobs said. "Our customers, like ourselves, recognize that there are obstacles. … We like to say, ‘Life isn’t easy, and life isn’t perfect. But life is good.’"

Read the full story here. 

Today's entertainment 

Four months into quarantine, we're all burned out and frustrated. I get it. I am too. 

I want to do everything to help you keep your sanity as the pandemic continues. So I'm offering the kind of service only a TV critic can: Personalized TV series recommendations! 

I put out this call at the start of quarantine, but you probably need it even more now. It may feel like you've binge-watched through everything your streaming services have to offer already, but I promise you, there's a show that you will love that maybe you haven't even heard of. Answer the following three questions in an email to klawler@usatoday.com and I'll come up with some TV binge-watching suggestions!

  • Which streaming services do you have?
  • What shows have you watched in quarantine so far?
  • What's your favorite TV show (or shows) of all time?

I'll publish your answers and my responses in subsequent newsletters. And by the way, if you're ever in the mood to talk about TV, you can check out our Facebook group for TV super fans, Yes, I'm Still Watching. 

Today's reads

Today's pet

Finnegan the bunny would like to remind you to eat your vegetables. 

 "He's a mini rex and very old, 12 years old" says his mom Linda Hug. "He loves a pet and he loves kale."

I too love cuddles and kale (if you cook it correctly it's amazing, I'm serious). 

That's all for this Saturday. Stay safe, stay well, and the newsletter will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday afternoon. If you'd like your pet featured, have a coping tip or a question about the newsletter, email me at klawler@usatoday.com. And, as always, feel free to fill out our survey to help shape the direction of this newsletter. We want to offer whatever will help you the most. 

All my very best,

Kelly Lawler

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