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Many folks found themselves with all sorts of spare time with the state-wide shutdown of non-essential businesses and limited gatherings, so one neighborhood in Chisago City got creative.

Phyllis Herman, who lives on Wallmark Lake Drive, decided to tape notes to her neighbors mailboxes and announce that they would hold a parade Sunday, March 22.

The neighborhood has large lots that are spaced apart, so her idea was to have those participating  use whatever they had in their houses and garages to dress up their vehicle, and those who wanted to watch to stay at the end of the driveway. thus ensuring a distance of at least six feet away for everyone.

Without much contact beforehand, Herman didn’t know how it would be received, but at 2 p.m. on Sunday, about 10-12 of her neighbors came out with cars decked in ribbons, stuffed animals and bright colors. As the caravan of vehicles made its way down Wallmark Lake Drive, which is about one mile long, residents were happily waiting at the end of their driveways to see what designs the neighbors cooked up. They were all greeted with smiles and waves from a community yearning for some safe human interaction.

Herman said she wasn’t even totally sure where the idea came from, but she’s glad she did it. “I’m not sure. I think maybe I saw it on Facebook, but maybe I dreamt it too,” she explained. “In another neighborhood I was in recently, a young girl had written in chalk on the streets ‘Hi neighbors!’ with a rainbow next to it, and it just made me want to do something for our Wallmark Lake Drive area.”

Herman is hoping they can make it a regular Sunday occurrence going forward as the social distancing may become a new normal. She says, “It was just so fun to see the college kids out having fun, the adults and everyone smiling in this time.”

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