The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic might have been a disaster for which very few of us were prepared, but in many ways, it acted as the wake-up call that many needed.
There is no way to diminish the misery that has been caused for families all over the world as a direct result of the pandemic created by the coronavirus; yet, there are other lessons that we have learned as a result of the pandemic that it would behoove us to take into account.
Specifically, those that speak of loving one’s neighbor, joining together as a single entity and keeping one’s calm and courage in the face of adversity.
Nobody should be surprised that a wide range of unlikely ties between neighbors was formed during the pandemic. After all, it was when many individuals were virtually banned from leaving their homes and were forbidden from going to work or out with their family and friends.
Mary O’Neil, a 99-year-old widow from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is one of the few who better understand what it is like to be alone.
According to the reports, she lived alone in 2021 when the pandemic occurred, but she had a very close bond with Benjamin Olson, a child who lived next door and was two years old.
“For more than a year, he didn’t see other kids,” Benjamin’s mother revealed. “He didn’t interact with anyone except our family and Mary.”
Benjamin was fortunate in that he had an unlikely friend who lived just next door to him, just on the other side of the fence. Simple activities, like blowing bubbles to one another and conversing from opposing porches, were the catalyst for developing his and Mary’s friendship.
Rocks and handfuls of sand were among the gifts that Benjamin would sometimes give to Mary. At other times, they would play a game with a ball; Benjamin would toss it, and Mary would use her cane to knock it back to Benjamin.
As Benjamin and Mary’s relationship progressed and they spent more time together, Mary realized she needed to make a decision that would undoubtedly tug at the heartstrings of anyone who heard their story.
” Mary said she had these trucks for Benjamin,” said Benjamin’s mom, Sarah.
However, Benjamin’s family did not know that the toy trucks belonged to Mary’s late son, who sadly died early.
Benjamin’s mother claims that the trucks were crucial in her two-year-old son learning his colors and that they also improved her son’s bond with Mary, who was over 100 years old at the time.
It seems that despite the epidemic, the two never stopped being the best of friends to one. I believe that their lovely relationship might teach us a thing or two that would be helpful.
Everyone who was affected by the COVID-19 epidemic had a difficult time. Nevertheless, there are things that we can learn from this that will help us in the future. I started some of these things at the opening of this post.
If you believe it’s interesting enough for others to read, please tell them about this article on the relationship between Mary and Benjamin.
