Coronavirus: 2 Elmhurst Birthdays Social Distancing-Style

ELMHURST, IL — They decorated their cars in a parking lot at York Street and North Avenue late Tuesday morning. Balloons adorned some of the vehicles. So did signs wishing "Happy Birthday."

The participants stood away from each other, all respecting social distancing. They planned to form a parade to celebrate the birthday of 2-year-old Clara Thommes. She is the daughter of Angeline Thommes, a resident on Elmhurst's Myrtle Avenue.

This is the way things are celebrated under the governor's stay-at-home order, designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Chicagoan Kristyn Hegner was among those decorating cars. She acknowledged Clara had no idea about the crisis or probably the concept of a birthday.

"This is more for us," Hegner said. "We're excited for her."

Clara wasn't the only one getting birthday wishes Tuesday in Elmhurst. A little while later, a group of four women — spaced apart, of course — parked in the spots in front of Eldridge Park. They proceeded across Spring Road to the home of Joellen Kenny. Getting her attention, one of them held a bunch of balloons and sang her "Happy Birthday."

They did not hand her the balloons. Rather, they attached them to a lamppost in her front yard. Kenny stood on her porch, but stepped no farther.

As a reporter walked up, they said it was fine for him to take pictures. "This is the way we do birthdays now," one of them said.

Another told the reporter, "Don't ask her age."

"Oh, I'm 72. I don't care," Kenny said.

Kenny said she has followed the stay-at-home order. Other than walks, she has not left her home for more than two weeks. She doesn't even go to the grocery store.

It's nothing like she has seen in her 72 years.

Read more:

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 7: 12,262 Cases; 307 Deaths

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