Text Chains of Love

Group Texts Have Kept Friendships — and Spirits — Afloat in Covid Era

“Everything is impossible,” texted my friend Rachel. She’s usually the upbeat one. The one with a solution. You know, the kind of person who went to camp for fifteen years and still wears the sweatshirts to annual reunions.

“That’s inspiring,” I responded. “You should make that your new mantra and have t-shirts made: Everything is impossible!”

“No, but seriously,” chimed our friend Meg. “Everything is impossible.”

We all agreed. Rachel, Megan and I are best friends from college. We live in three different cities — Oakland, LA and New York. We all have small children, ranging in ages from 3 to 10. We all have full-time jobs and working spouses. And, for the last eleven months, like everyone else, we’ve all been struggling in different areas. But, along the way, we’ve been there — via texts throughout the day — to support each other. And we are not alone.

When the world is normal, Rachel, Megan and I take a yearly trip together to catch up and reconnect without the distraction of husbands and families. We lie by pools, order room service, laugh until we cry. But, like so many others, Covid has stripped us of that possibility. It’s been nearly two years since we’ve seen each other in person. We’re burnt out on zooms; and the time difference…