I’ll bet you have been part of many a conversation recently that started with the words “I wish” or “I hope.” With so many people impacted by COVID-19, I’m sure there are huge numbers of us looking for some summer fun but not sure what that is going to look like this year. We’re wishing and hoping for a chance to get outdoors, see our friends, maybe enjoy a walk, picnic or kayak across the water. What will summer fun look like during a pandemic? It might be a little different than summer’s past but with upcoming events like Drive In Movie Day, I hope you’ll agree there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy time with friends, the warmer weather and gatherings – even in a socially distanced kind of way!

What’s happening in June?

At Amintro, we’re informed that somewhere, somehow, it was determined that June is Seniors Month. That’s great news but today we’re focused on celebrating summer (and the month of June specifically) in a more general way. With some communities still experiencing COVID-19, and current recommendations suggesting we continue to be mindful of how many people we interact with, we plan on sticking to celebrations that sound like summer fun but don’t necessarily mean large crowds of people. Here are some of the fun dates that have been suggested we celebrate in June. They include:

  1. Drive In Movie Day on June 6th
  2. International Picnic Day on June 18th
  3. National Take a Selfie Day on June 21st
  4. Best Friends Day on June 8th

Selfies – are they ever really flattering?

Now admittedly, some of these dates may have already passed by the time you read this post but that’s ok. We weren’t really going to advocate getting together with a large group of friends anyway! Rather, we particularly singled those days out just to highlight how we can enjoy ourselves (even with just one or two friends) all while still in a state of semi-lockdown whether mandated or self-imposed. For starters, who needs any help at all to take a selfie? Well, quite possibly me because I’m infamous for the “thumb over the camera lens” shot and my arms are:

  1. wobbly ( I should probably work out more) and
  2. definitely not long enough to take a selfie that will, in any way, shape or form, be a flattering picture.

In fact, I think it’s safe to say when the  selfie-stick was first thought of, no one anticipated having to make one long enough to even remotely capture my “best side!” But go ahead, if it works for you and even if it isn’t June 21st, smile, say cheese and take a selfie – after all a whole day has been set aside just for that purpose!

Drive In’s are Back in Style!

As for Drive In Movie Day, that’s a day we can really get behind. Do you remember drive ins? There are probably only a few of us who do! Back then cars had big enough front and backseats to either spread out and get comfortable or cuddle up and get “comfortable” (if you catch my drift) without either a stick shift, multiple coffee cup holders or a mission control launch system sitting in the middle of the two front seats. Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps cars were designed with all of these items in between the seats to purposely keep us apart! Regardless of intent, the Drive In is a relatively safe place to go if you are itching to get out of the house because you’ll be contained within your own car. Just don’t sneak anyone in by way of the trunk and I sure hope you don’t have to go to the bathroom!

Have a Picnic with a Friend!

Now International Picnic Day and Best Friends Day might require a bit more imagination in order to celebrate. If you are still in self-isolation hop on a zoom call with your best friend, glass of wine in hand (after all, no one is driving!) and enjoy your time together. If you want to get really creative, combine Best Friends Day and Picnic Day by “having a picnic” together with your friend but separately. With a little imagination there’s no reason you can’t spread out a blanket, make a picnic lunch and share some quality picnic time online. If you are in a community where some of the restrictions have been lifted and it’s been deemed ok, then meet your best friend in person and have a socially distanced picnic in real time. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate – sounds like some good summer fun to us!

However you choose to celebrate – have fun!

Amintro continues to support people making friends, and friends finding fun things to do together whether that’s ticking an item off your bucket list, going to a yoga class together or simply finding a great way to have some summer fun.  Looking up fun things like what special day in June is the best day to have a picnic or to celebrate your lifelong friendship with your bestie, seemed like a good idea and we hope you agree.  As for me, I wish you all a safe, healthy and socially distanced summer and hope you decide to celebrate at least one of these special days. If you do, don’t forget to post it on our Facebook page – we’d love to hear from you! What will you celebrate?

*As always, with any of our comments we urge you first and foremost to follow the direction and advice of the Medical Officer of Health in your area.

*If you haven’t joined our Facebook group yet visit Amintro Connects and sign up today. It’s a private group and we’d love to hear from you.