Brian Jeffrey
Welcome to #NotBadNews, our new (and hopefully short-lived) daily column where we round up the good, surprising, and weird things that have happened around the world during this coronavirus pandemic.
It’s a new week, which means we at Fodor’s are back and ready to round up all the good news you might have missed. From a Walmart baby to a less-than-traditional exchanging of vows, here is what made us feel a little better about our world’s current state.
A New York City “I Do”
Not even a pandemic could stop these two love-birds, whose officiant read out the oaths from his fifth-story apartment as the couple married on the street below.
just witnessed the most incredible thing. after being read a passage from “love in the time of cholera” from a marriage officiant 5 stories up, down below, these two souls were married on the streets of upper manhattan. what. a. coronavirus. moment. pic.twitter.com/8MBOj5VLlp
— Talal Ansari (@TalalNAnsari) March 21, 2020
Who is to say that there can be no romance during a scary time? And we look forward to the Nancy Meyers/Steven Soderbergh cross-over movie inspired by this true-event.
A Two Act Musical: Boulder’s Make-Shift Concert Hall and Spain’s Singing Police
When one man’s concert was forced to reschedule, he took matters into his own hands, setting up shop at his Boulder retirement community. With a keyboard and speakers, this professional pianist celebrated his 84th birthday in the most beautiful way.
My father, a professional pianist who just celebrated his 84th birthday, is supposed to be at a music conference in Quebec, but instead is playing in front of his retirement community in Boulder for the residents who are under lockdown pic.twitter.com/riVqSUvgkw
— Rob Spillman (@robspillman) March 20, 2020
While Colorado was treated to a one-man recital, Spain welcomed a street performance of their own: Mallorca police department’s musical sector.
The Police in Mallorca, Spain making rounds around villages on lock down to do this 😭
To alleviate the anxiety of the people and to keep them entertained ❤ pic.twitter.com/lHZCnKmxgr
— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) March 22, 2020
The town’s police have been driving through neighborhoods putting on quick concerts for those stuck inside.
Walmart Welcomes a Baby Girl
A Walmart in Missouri got quite the surprise when a woman’s water broke while she was shopping (clean up in aisle 10). Acting quickly, the store set up a make-shift room in the toilet paper-aisle where the woman was assisted by a labor nurse, who happened to be shopping at the same time, and the fire department.
Baby got rollback: Customers cheer at a Walmart in Missouri after a woman gave birth to a baby girl in the store’s toilet paper aisle. https://t.co/69Wgb3xUje #odd
— AP Oddities (@AP_Oddities) March 20, 2020
The woman welcomed a baby girl, and both are reported to be doing well. Not only are Walmart employees working extra hard, long hours during this time, they’re now assisting with births: no one can argue that that’s not essential. And while the woman’s name has not been disclosed, we might take to calling the daughter Charmin.
A UK Nursing Home’s Life-Size Hasbro Game
Because nursing homes are not allowing visitors, a measurement put in place to prevent the introduction of COVID-19, staffs have had to find new ways to keep the residents engaged–introducing a life-size game of Hungry Hungry Hippos.
Not only did this video warm our hearts, it also gave us some great ideas for what to do with the next month of lock-down.
Some Heroes Wear Lab Coats
In Spain, where the virus is reaching new highs, extra help has arrived. Doctors from Cuba entered the airport, lab coats on and ready to work.
Cuban doctors arriving into Italy to support the fight against Covid-19. Throughout most pandemics of the 21st century Cuban doctors have been at the forefront of the medical response, no matter what the country. pic.twitter.com/DxiVLWMeIT
— Frankie Leach (@francesleach_) March 22, 2020
While the virus has frightened the nation, it has also shown us our ability to unify. If you know someone working in the medical field, an extra “thank you” might be in order.
Explore Africa From Home
No, right now is not the right time for an actual vacation, but that doesn’t mean we can’t virtually leave the house for a bit. High-end safari tour guide &Beyond is giving everyone at home a chance to explore Africa like never before, with videos that take you from your bedroom onto a safari.
After exploring the wildlife, take a moment to bring Africa to your kitchen by giving one of their many recipes a try. This is all about bringing the vacation to you.
Check-in every day for an update on the wonderful and weird things happening in our current coronavirus world.
Written by: Fodor
