Life Style

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions | A Cup of Jo


One of the best things on my social media feeds lately is watching people reunite with loved ones after the past year apart! Here are some of our amazing readers and their heartwarming meetings with family and friends…

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“I spent a few months living with my halmoni in California right before I moved to Texas for graduate school. After the pandemic started, we didn’t see each other for 15 months, and I missed her so, so much. Here’s a photo of us reunited in her home. It’s also her first selfie!” — Jeana

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“I had a chance to reunite with my family now that we’re all vaccinated. We hadn’t all been together since January of 2020!” — Gloria

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“Here is a photo of my mom, sister and me (I’m on the right). It was glorious to be together again for the first time in a year! We live in three different states, but we gathered at my apartment in Seattle to celebrate our mom’s birthday. After a lovely brunch, we all crawled into bed to take naps but ended up chatting and singing and marveling in our togetherness.” — Sarah

“My friend Aya and I each have daughters. Our girls were born ten days apart and were inseparable all four years of their lives until the pandemic. They caught up on zoom and spent hours on the phone playing, but today they were finally reunited after more than a year. We are so proud of their resilience and close bond.” — Lisa

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“This was the first time seeing my sister in four and half years! My dietitian internship and then Covid kept us apart. She greeted me at the airport with fresh coconut water and some Guyanese cook-up (coconut-milk-seasoned rice and beans) with fish.” — Naudia

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“Last summer, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, which meant it was critically important that she quarantine. We were devastated but so thankful for vaccines which made it safe for my sister, my daughter and me to finally fly home and spend a long weekend with her. Nothing cheers one up more than an adorable grandchild!” — Moira

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“My mom was unable to visit us in February when my baby was born, but the minute she was fully vaccinated she flew from Pennsylvania to Colorado to finally meet my baby, Cora. I anticipated that moment for so long that when she texted that she was there, my heart was pounding. I thought she would rush straight to the baby, but she came to me first and embraced me. I’d had a traumatic birth and hadn’t seen her for over a year. I think I’d forgotten that I really just needed my mama, even more than I needed her to be gramma, in that moment. My face is red and teary in this photo but I don’t care in the slightest because I can see the relief — my cup is being filled.” — Skye

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“My best friend Charlie and I met each other halfway in Austin for a few days. It was the first time we had been in the same state in two and a half years!” — Carly

“My girls hadn’t seen their nonna and nonno in over a year! It was so special to all of us as my father has Alzheimer’s, and my youngest hasn’t seen them since she was nine months old.” — Nicole

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“This is my daughter with two of my friends — more like family. It was the first time we saw them in about two years. We were deliriously happy, especially my girl.” — Thao

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“Here’s a picture of my family reuniting with my grandma, Fay, who just turned 103! She had Covid in March 2020 and miraculously pulled through, so this made our reunion extra meaningful. Fay was born in 1918 during the Spanish Flu, and both her parents contracted the virus. They eventually pulled through, as well, and they had their own reunion. Makes me feel like history connects us all.” — Lisa

“My mom lives in Florida and we are in the Northeast. We hadn’t seen her in over 500 days and after we got vaccinated, we surprised her! It was priceless!” — Ann-Marie

13 Readers Share Their Joyful Reunions

“My husband threw a surprise 41st birthday party for me last month since I had enjoyed the big 4-0 in quarantine. The party was a complete shock, but the best part was when my sister appeared! We hadn’t seen each other for 16 months! She flew from Portland and left her youngest son for the first time ever to be there. I kept touching her face and asking her if she was real — ha! It was the absolute best hug of my life. This was the first big gathering that most of our friends and family had attended, and it felt like a homecoming. One of my friends said it best: ‘I forgot how much I liked everyone.’ ” — Katie

Thank you to everyone who shared their reunion stories with us! And sending love to those who are still waiting. xo

P.S. Readers swanning around in their best dresses and making peace with my quarantine body.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button