During the stay at home order, many of us have learned new tasks. We took a crash course in learning to work from home, and at the same time we learned how to teach our children. We’re learning to cook and bake and how to pivot when we can’t obtain our favorite item from the grocery store. We’ve rekindled some time-honored ways to pass the time, by putting together puzzles, reading, and playing family games.
Bridgeland’s tagline, Be More Connected, emphasizes the community’s blueprint of bridging people with nature and with each other. While the recommendation to stay 6 feet apart has made that challenging, Bridgeland has risen to the occasion with a variety of ways to remain connected to one another. Small gestures, like painted rocks with messages of hope and encouragement left along walkways by the newly formed resident group, Bridgeland Rocks, to a variety of virtual activities created by the Homeowners’ Association (HOA) and videos produced by a local professional has helped uplift our collective spirits with a feeling of togetherness.
The HOA helped bring residents together while practicing social distancing by coming up with a creative contest called Chalk the Walk. Residents were able to color walkways following given themes. ‘Color the World With Kindness’ and ‘Keep Calm and Easter On’ produced numerous colorful messages and pictures that residents could observe when walking past or view on the Bridgeland Community Association’s Facebook page.
Virtual Bingo gave kids the chance to play a game with one another, in real time, by utilizing Zoom. Adults also had an opportunity to play a round of Quarantini Bingo after the workday on Thirsty Thursday.
Bridgeland’s traditional Easter Egg Hunt proceeded, but with a little twist. 96 families chose one of three dates to participate. Once registered, they were instructed to “hop” around the community trails in search of clues provided in the form of riddles. The top five winners from each hunt won a handmade basket with Easter eggs and gift cards to local businesses, such as Local Table and Bridgeland Fine Wines.
Story time, which typically takes place in the Dragonfly Park Activity Center, has also gone virtual. Parents can sign in to the Bridgeland Community’s Facebook page so that our youngest residents can enjoy some time having stories read to them.
That’s What Heroes Do, created by Bridgeland resident Mike McCurdy, is a compilation of vignettes of resident children reading letters they wrote to first responders. Thank you was the overarching message from children of all ages. They showed gratitude and a deeper level of understanding, mentioning that first responders leave their families to go and help others they don’t even know, while also putting their own lives at risk. Their genuine expressions are heartwarming. “Maybe you are angels in costumes,” said one child.” “Together we can beat this – because of you,” said another, who followed up her message by blowing a kiss. The video ends with the children saying thank you in several languages.
In the Greater Houston area, all three award-winning Howard Hughes communities are contributing to the #lightitblue campaign now taking place across the country. This video shows key landmarks and the entry monuments to Bridgeland, The Woodlands, and The Woodlands Hills illuminated blue in support of healthcare and essential frontline professionals. Many residents within Bridgeland are also letting frontliners know their valiant efforts are not going unnoticed. A photo album was created showing Bridgeland homes aglow in blue light and can be viewed here on Facebook. The images are encouraging reminders of how we are standing strong, together.
