OLDS — In this time of social distancing, a local resident has created a way for people to say ‘hi’ or ‘I love you’ without touching and she says it’s “gone viral.”
Patricia Mulligan, 55, of Olds says she got the idea while watching TV news about a week ago.
“Somebody was saying, ‘a hand on your heart; that’s a safe way of saying ‘I love you,’ ‘hello,’ and ‘stay safe’ instead of touching someone.
“Like, we don’t do the foot thing anymore, we can’t do the elbow you know; we have to stay away. So when you walk by somebody, you put your hand on your heart and that’s like saying ‘hello,’” she said in an interview.
So Mulligan went downstairs, found some thick, coloured cardboard, created a big picture of a hand and cut a heart in the middle of it, and posted it on her window.
Then she got the idea to post it on Facebook and tagged everyone she knew.
She said that’s when it really took off.
“All of a sudden, everybody’s doing it. Five people showed me pictures; they’re already doing it,” she said. “It’s gone viral. Everybody’s putting hands with hearts cut out in their windows.”
That includes several people on her block.
Mulligan said it’s a great activity for parents or grandparents to do with kids while they’re all housebound.
“This is a wonderful way to spread love, because I see families go by and they point at my window and they’re just laughing and everything with the kids,” she said.
Mulligan ran a daycare business for about 27 years. She said she had to close it about a month ago after undergoing surgery.
“I have so many people on my Facebook that have children and who need something fun to do.
“And oh my gosh, you wouldn’t believe the comments I’m getting," she said. "‘Patty, this is wonderful.’ ‘Oh Patty, I love you.'"
COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.
