By coincidence, they were just a few hundred yards from where the other
group had had a similar experience, and at the same time. It turned out
these two groups have been howling to each other.
Howling was Covid morale builder in some places, oddly:
https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-coronavirus-howling-moon-scream-stay-at-home-order-pandemic-denver/
DENVER (AP) — It starts with a few people letting loose with some
tentative yelps. Then neighbors emerge from their homes and join,
forming a roiling chorus of howls and screams that pierces the twilight
to end another day's monotonous forced isolation.
From California to Colorado to Georgia and New York, Americans are
taking a moment each night at 8 p.m. to howl in a quickly spreading
ritual that has become a wrenching response of a society cut off from
one another by the coronavirus pandemic.
They howl to thank the nation's health care workers and first responders
for their selfless sacrifices, much like the balcony applause and
singing in Italy and Spain. Others do it to reduce their pain, isolation
and frustration. Some have other reasons, such as to show support for
the homeless.
In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis has encouraged residents to participate.
Children who miss their classmates and backyard dogs join in, their own
yowls punctuated by the occasional fireworks, horn blowing and bell ringing.
RELATED: LISTEN: Elk Joins People Howling At Moon During Stay-At-Home Order
"There's something very Western about howling that's resonating in
Colorado. The call-and-response aspect of it. Most people try it and
love to hear the howl in return," said Brice Maiurro, a poet,
storyteller and activist who works at National Jewish Health.
The nightly howl is a primal affirmation that provides a moment's bright
spot each evening by declaring, collectively: We shall prevail, said Dr.
Scott Cypers, director of Stress and Anxiety programs at the Helen and
Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center at the University of Colorado
Anschutz Medical Campus. It's a way to take back some of the control
that the pandemic-forced social isolation has forced everyone to give
up, Cypers said.
"The virus' impact is very different for everyone, and this is a way to
say, 'This sucks,' and get it out in a loud way," Cypers said. "Just
being able to scream and shout and let out pent-up grief and loss is
important. Little kids, on the other hand, are really enjoying this."
Maiurro and his partner, Shelsea Ochoa, a street activist and artist,
formed the Facebook group Go Outside and Howl at 8 p.m. The group has
nearly half a million members from all 50 U.S. states and 99 countries
since they created it as Colorado's shelter-in-place order went into
effect last month.
"We wanted to do this mostly because people are feeling isolated right
now," said Ochoa, 33, who works at the Denver Museum of Nature &
Science. "I think it hit on something others needed."