Friends Find New Ways To Connect: Parking Lot Dates

ALGONQUIN, IL — Seventeen years ago, Kevin Wallace made a promise to a dying friend. Bill Cunningham wanted to make sure his beloved wife, Sally Cunningham, would be taken care of once he was gone and asked Wallace to make sure that happened.

The Cunninghams and Wallace and his wife, Debbie Wallace, first met while living in an old Victorian home in Crystal Lake 26 years ago. The Cunninghams lived in the bottom level of the home and the Wallaces lived upstairs. They all became fast friends and the Wallaces, who'd just been married, became known among the group as the newlywoods and the Cunninghams went by the honeymooners.

After Bill Cunningham died, the Wallaces started getting together regularly with Sally. She was "like a grandma" to their three children. Over the past year, those get-togethers have become monthly.

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But with the new coronavirus limiting socialization, the group went two months without seeing each other before they decided to get creative this past weekend. They met in the Port Edward's Restaurant parking lot in Algonquin. It was a sunny day with temps in the 60s. Cunningham stayed in her car, sitting in the back seat with the door opened, and faced the Wallaces, who brought folding chairs and sat far enough away.

• Illinois Coronavirus Update April 21: 30,357 Cases; 1,290 Deaths

Cunningham brought pizza from Nick's Pizza and Pub and they all enjoyed some drinks. They'd originally planned, before government-mandated shutdowns were ordered, to road trip up to Michigan for the Wallaces' son's graduation. Which, also, had since been canceled.

Port Edward's held a special place in all of their hearts since they often gathered there to celebrate the Wallaces' and the Cunninghams' anniversaries since their wedding dates were also so close. And while they don't know when they will be able to gather at a restaurant, they are planning another parking lot date again soon.

Other Happy News

We are always looking to highlight other fun and safe ways that people are finding to socialize and provide some joy to others during these times of social distancing and uncertainty. Share your stories, links to videos, Facebook updates and more, with Patch Editor Amie Schaenzer by e-mailing her at amie.schaenzer@patch.com.