“On my birthday last weekend, my fiancé led me to his laptop, and suddenly I heard screams of “Surprise!” My friends had organized a Zoom party without me finding out—a major coup on their part. Beneath the surprise, though, lay a familiar virus-induced sadness: I didn’t realize how much I’d miss hugging these people I love.

Right before everyone sang happy birthday, my doorbell rang: the chocolate bundt cake Mom had mailed arrived right on time. I blew out the candles and looked at the screen full of people clapping, laughing, and blowing kisses. At the top left corner was my mother, smiling into her camera, looking over me.”

- Phillip Picardi via It Took a Global Pandemic, but I’m Finally Calling My Mom