Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Stay Safe, Stay at Home” order is needed in these COVID-19 times, but staying connected with other people is important as well.

That’s when it’s time to take a moment – a Marquette Moment.

The Marquette City Commission recently approved a proclamation for this initiative, which allow neighbors to check up on each other through Marquette Moments. These take place at 6:30 every evening. Residents and families are encouraged to come out of their homes, maybe wave to their neighbors and check up on them.

The goal is to provide comfort while safely interacting with each other.

This connection, of course, must happen within the guidelines of people being at least 6 feet away from each other.

Credit Marquette resident Lauren Luce with bringing the idea to the Commissioner Evan Bonsall after learning of the idea near Troy in the Lower Peninsula.

In a Tuesday story in The Mining Journal, Bonsall was quoted as saying at the meeting that the proclamation promotes a bit of socialization within the confines of social distancing, and helps with some of the loneliness he’s sure some people are feeling now.

“I think it will be a cool thing for our community, and who knows?” Bonsall said. “Maybe it will turn into a little tradition in Marquette.”

That’s true. Sometimes neighbors, for whatever reason, don’t know each other really well.

Mayor Jenna Smith stressed that people are social beings, but the COVID-10 pandemic has changed many lives, and some might be handling it better.

We agree. While one person might be coping just fine, with family or roommates to keep them company, others live solo, and don’t have that companionship.

And even with a person is just fine living alone, a little social interaction can brighten up the day. There’s a good chance that person had a job, went to church or attended club meetings, and those might have gone away, at least for the foreseeable future.

“That sense of normalcy is so important to take our minds off the stressful situation we’re all experiencing,” Smith said.

People can email, use Skype or FaceTime or use their phones to connect with people, but sometimes you just need a truly personal connection.