Drive-by birthdays newest craze for people to deal with coronavirus
For her 15th birthday on Monday, Corinne White of Lexington was supposed to be in Crystal River, Florida, with her family, swimming with manatees.
But with the coronavirus COVID-19 forcing people to cancel travel plans, and friends unable to even gather for a party, her special day promised to be a pretty dreary affair.
But her father, Duncan, had seen on a national news report that a family in California had organized a “drive-by” birthday party for their 5-year-old son. So he ordered a big yard sign, set up a tent on the front lawn and through social media and phone calls invited all their friends to cruise by their house for a surprise birthday parade.
“You got to do something to celebrate,” he said. “It just struck me that it was something to bring the community together and show her love.”
So at 2 p.m., about 25 to 30 cars rolled by honking, waving and shouting birthday wishes to Corrine, a freshman at White Knoll High School in Lexington County. Some were decorated and some featured streamers, balloons or signs.
“It was a great surprise,” Corinne said. “I saw one of my friends coming down the street, then another and another and I burst out crying.”
Drive-bys are becoming a national rage of sorts as people are in their second month of social distancing.
In the Midlands, one of the first was held not for a birthday, but for teachers at Round Top Elementary in Blythewood to see their students. On March 22, shortly after schools closed, the teachers planned a route through neighborhoods the school serves, and honked and waved to students when they rolled past.
The parade got the attention of Laura Oliver of Forest Acres.
Her daughter Jackie was to have her 12th birthday on March 25. And her sisters, Delainey, 15, and Allison, 7, were going to celebrate by having all their friends over for a dinner “and make TicToK videos and do what girls do.”
But when they had to cancel the party, Laura decided to organize the parade.
“It was the early days of social distancing, so people drove by throwing confetti and candy and handing (Jackie) gift bags with gift certificates,” Laura said.
Jackie said she wasn’t totally surprised by the parade, but she had hinted to her mom that the parades looked fun.
“I sat in the front yard and a bunch of friends drove by. I handed out cupcakes,” she said. “It made me feel really loved and happy.”
Looking back, Laura might have cut back on the cupcakes and gift bags. ”It was the early days of social distancing,” she said.
Now Laura’s other two daughters want parades, coronavirus or no coronavirus.
“What we thought was a consolation prize is what everyone wants now,” she said. “It was a wonderful way to make the best of the situation. We got to see friends from school and church, parents came. It was really special.”
As for Corinne White, next year she has a special wish.
“I want to swim with manatees,” she said.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 6:17 PM.