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What's one obstacle you've faced in the past week? How did you handle it?
The biggest obstacle that I faced this week is drama in my work life. The local restaurants are full of drama queens and divas. Just to up the ante, my latest workplace is a new restaurant inside a convenience store. The pandemic has filled the workforce with qualified applicants, so we can all be replaced easily. Sometimes, none of us has a clue about how to handle work issues. As we all train and introduce more food offerings to the public, more people show up. And introducing new foods has not been easy. Supplies that are short in the grocery stores are also short in the restaurant supply houses. The new business has not been affected by the pandemic. That last fact should be good news for the convenience store chain, as they are counting on the fact that they offer food as well as alcoholic beverages to save them from closures due to the pandemic. It is a strain on the whole staff, and we all kind of melted down one day last week when the restaurant was overrun by a sudden surge in hungry people. Our area was visited by hurricane evacuees this week, as well as the area manager. We’re still rocking along, maybe with a better idea on how to deal with the new volume in sales. Our dilemma has been highlighted by some announcements by a nearby competitor. This competitor decided to ignore warnings from the state of Texas regarding who could stay open and who had to close. Dire consequences were threatened if bars who did not serve food with their drinks did not close. The only way to avoid penalties meted out by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission was to close. But this competitor was in a small town, and all tourism to the town was discouraged by closing the major events in town so far. I guess this businessman thought that he was safe enough as long as he was serving locals only. Someone complained and TABC paid a visit. Now this man is out of business as a part of the penalties that were assessed. It makes me grateful that I am working for a company that was bold enough to try a business expansion in the face of this restriction. But it also means that state authorities are watching closely.
September 3, 2020
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¿De que manera el coronavirus le está afectando su vida en este momento? Cuéntenos sus experiencias, sensaciones/emociones, y pensamientos.
Esta última semana estuve en dos hospitales acompañando a una prima a quien se le acaba de detectar cáncer. Además del desgaste psicológico de esto, la estancia en el hospital en medio de una pandemia es una angustia agregada. He tenido cuidado en aislarme lo más posible una vez en casa, con el miedo de haber contraído el virus en el hospital y yo contagiar a mis papás o mi abuela. He aprovechado el tiempo libre para bordar y dibujar, en un intento de manejar mejor mi salud mental y evitar crisis de ansiedad, pero ha sido difícil. Han sido días de verdad muy difíciles.
September 3, 2020
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Are you doing anything artistic or creative these days that you weren’t doing before? If so, talk about it.
Definitely the ukulele is one of the joys of this pandemic. I had started to play a few years ago, but then got caught up in life’s persistent activities, and stopped for a while. In January, I joined a weekly community ed class. By March, I was one of the regulars when the class was forced to meet on Zoom. Our teacher hosted a weekly meetup through which I learned about other jam sessions and additional instructors. By a month into quarantine, I was taking three to four classes a week, which led to additional drop-in sessions. I started listening to daily ukulele tips stretched from 5 minutes to nearly an hour, depending upon the presenter. In other words, yes, I am doing something artistic that I wasn’t doing before, and honestly, I think the ukulele is keeping me sane in the chaos of lockdown. Ukulele is a happy folk instrument played by casual and serious musicians. Many of us had not played a musical instrument before, or not seriously pursued musical experiences. It’s tremendously creative and forgiving. Easier than guitar, the uke has only four strings—and I have four fingers—so a relative beginner can make some nice sounds. Our groups are collaborative. Everyone offers positive suggestions. It’s just plain fun. I’m even arranging some of the songs, writing melody, counter-melody and combining the two. Even though I have not met any of them in person, my weekly fingerpicking group is my go-to feel good group. We’ve bonded over music and life stages. We truly care for one another. I hope that someday when we are able to once again gather in public, we will actually meet. Because of zoom, our regular groups consist of people from all over the globe. In lockdown, Australia can be next door. I enjoy an occasional class given by the guy in Albuquerque. One teacher is in England and one of my study partners this week is in Italy. I have new friends in Texas and California...and I’m outside of Boston. That’s the cool thing about Zoom sessions that wouldn’t be possible —nor have even crossed my mind — before Covid. Before Covid I didn’t take it that seriously. During quarantine, ukulele is my lifeline. I find I can lose myself in the music, and in the camaraderie. I’m smiling at the end of each long ukulele jam session.
September 3, 2020
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Have you or people in your community been harassed, threatened, or attacked since the pandemic began, either in person or online? If so, what happened?
Due to the pandemic, racial tension, the presidential election, and more, there is more tension than ever between groups and individuals. Although no one in my close circles have been attacked or threatened, even online, there have been situations online wherein family and friends have gotten in arguments, goodnatured or otherwise, with both strangers and aquantances.
September 7, 2020
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Think about the people closest to you. Tell us about how the coronavirus has affected them, and their life.
This is myself (in the fighter pilot helmet) hugging my daughter who had been working as an ICU nurse with strictly COVID prone vented patients for 4-6 weeks straight. She was struggling with her work and her inability to socialize - see family and friends - and working 12 hour shifts 5 or 6 days per week. She was a new nurse (only been in ICU for 4 months when COVID hit). She has a passion for elderly and hospice care (she worked at the VA in step down care the year before). I was getting calls from her in the middle of the night crying and hysterical because she was profoundly sad that COVID patients were coming in talking and walking and then would be on vents within 24 hours. The idea of not having anyone with them when they were dying was tearing her apart. She was seeing patients her own age, her parents age as well as older patients. She was seeing a large portion of the patients being black and hispanic. She was literally operating in a 'shock' mode. She was so worried about myself and my husband getting sick. I was so proud of her and worried for her own health and mental health but could do nothing other than face time and send her gifts. In this photo we met at a highway rest stop in Indiana (we each drove 2 hours to meet) and our family brought her the family dog to help with her sanity and be sure that she felt less alone in her Chicago apartment (which her roommate had moved out due to my daughter working strictly with COVID patients). Our dog stayed with her for 3 weeks and I truly believe that this saved her life (mentally at least). Her mood and ability to cope changed immediately. People need people (or dogs) and they need 'a reason to keep going and getting through the days'. Thanks for letting me share.
September 7, 2020
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Talk about what is most upsetting or scaring you right now about the coronavirus pandemic.
The most scary/upsetting thing in this pandemic is how little it seems people can or will put in an effort to protect others. I hate this. I am personally one of those people that will go out of my way to protect others, and even though that extreme is not healthy either, outright refusal to help others astounds me. And that is not entirely different from our lives before Covid-19. But this global catastrophe is showing how poorly prepared the US was because the US isn't built on helping others. That isn't the mentality we have. The American Dream and the theme of pulling yourself up, climbing the ladder to success, are actively dying, faster now than it had been before Covid-19. How long is this society going to hold on to the old ways? Will we finally change? Will the change come in time to prevent other horrific global catastrophes? Because just because the world had halted somewhat do to the pandemic, we still have a "Big Bad" global climate change to resolve. Otherwise, we will be permanently altering the climate of the world in a way that will make it horrifically difficult for life to live here. THAT is horrific. This pandemic feels like we are now at square 1 regarding how to resolve the other existential threat we face. It just makes me honestly panic. Because we are so busy with trying to fix the short term problem, since we were not prepared in the first place, we will be too late to fix the end of life on Earth.
September 9, 2020
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We’re seeing wide variations in how different countries are handling the pandemic. What do you think about these differences?
... The way America has handled the lockdown is horrifying. By definition public health is never a matter of individual rights. It is one thing to have free choice of action if the only person included in the consequences is yourself. It is a total other ballgame if your choice not to wear a mask etc could lead to the deaths of many others. Right now in the news is the Maine wedding case. I think I heard that none of the people who died from the web of cases connected to the wedding guests meeting actually attended the wedding themselves. This is a prime case of how you can't make the choice not to distance/mask just for yourself. You are endangering other people's lives.
September 9, 2020
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Are you doing anything artistic or creative these days that you weren’t doing before? If so, talk about it.
Dancing singing laughing watching action movies
September 9, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Empty alone tired stressed
September 9, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Yesterday, when I elected to venture out to several stores in a nearby town, I almost felt as if I were a player in a real life Clue game. There I was, wearing a mask, avoiding close human contact as much as possible and unobtrusively slipping in and out of aisles, perhaps pretending that if I made myself invisible, the virus wouldn't find me. However, as I glanced at others likewise darting through the stores, it suddenly struck me that any one of these shoppers (including myself!) could be carrying, unknowingly or not----COVID-19. So who could be the guilty party? Just look around. Could it be the old codger in Kroger with a cane? College coed in Kohl's with a crossover bag? Baby in Books-A-Million with a rattle? Decorator in Hobby Lobby with fall flowers? Executive in the Exxon station with a Cross pen? It could be anyone. And by the time a suspect is pinpointed, it could be too late. No one is going to win this game.
September 9, 2020
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Many of us have experienced restrictions on movement and social contact during the pandemic. Talk about any restrictions that have especially affected you.
I had one friend who had to actually quarantine himself because he had caught the virus and honestly I was frightened for him. When you hear that someone close to you has the virus the only thing to think is that "Oh will he/she make it" so I asked my friend immediately what I could do to be of help while he was healing. However, he was calm and took the process of healing slowly and so I did the same but the only restriction that really caused any frustration was the fact that we weren't allowed to go to many places although it was completely understandable why the government issued a lock down.
September 10, 2020
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How is the pandemic affecting any children in your life? Give an example or two of some specific ways you've seen this happen.
I"m not sure if 21 counts as a child, probably not, but the 21-year old I'm writing about is my son, so he will always be "my child!" All week I've been so conscious of how much gratitude I have for the little gift that the pandemic has brought me--an extra five months with my son. He is at the age when kids are generally moving out of the house or off to college, but he decided to take a semester off and stay home for a job, internship and two remote classes. Usually when he's at school, we text or talk on occasion, but he's pretty private and it's hard to get details from him about his life, classes, etc. because he's so busy. Then when he's home, he's out a lot seeing his friends. But now that he's living at home, we talk every day. He fills his dad and me in on his job, his internship, what he's working on in class. Because we have time together, I think he feels more comfortable telling me things. I'm delighted that I get to be his mom again, and that we have this time together to learn how to have an adult relationship, rather than just on his school breaks. I am even getting to watch my son mature close up, at home, in a way that would not have been probable under most other circumstances. He chose to stay home, so he is not resentful toward us, in any way. He knows that he is really lucky he has a part time job AND a great internship and he is grateful for this. He's interested in learning life skills that he didn't quite pick up before he left for school (e.g. Cooking, Barbecuing, sewing, fabric dying) and I am having fun teaching him! He's actually cleaning up after himself and doing most of his own cooking and shopping. I think he appreciates that he has two parents who love and support him and are making/keeping a home for him where he can be safe. So, to answer the question: the pandemic has forced him to grow up a little faster than he would have otherwise, and he has taken on this challenge magnificently by being proactive and going forward with his life. He has made exquisite lemonade out of lemons, and I am so proud of him
September 10, 2020
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Talk about any major life events, milestones, or other important things in life that have been disrupted by the pandemic.
The things that feel different this time of year - as we prepare for the fall and another surge to hit us, is the expectation that there will be a contraction of life again. And more shutdown coming. So we are trying to use these last days of summer here in the Northeast USA to get out as much as possible - to swim in lakes, ponds, streams, pools that have access. Go for walks, hikes, strolls with the dog. See friends at a safe distance in our backyards or on the street. These are not tears of sorrow but tears of gratitude, of strength. We WILL get through this harsh time...together.
September 10, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I have been leading a very restricted life for the past 6 months. It makes me extremely angry when so-called friends who know damn well that I have to lead an especially restricted life for medical reasons, literally brag about visiting friends and relatives and eating in restaurants and going into stores. Why do these people behave like that? The two friends I am thinking about are very self-absorbed, entitled people. Maybe they'll be on a ventilator someday soon. I wouldn't dream about flaunting to them the fact that I am not on a ventilator. This virus is bringing nice people like me to the dark side.
September 11, 2020
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Has the pandemic affected your political views in any way? If so, how?
The relationship between politics and the pandemic makes me sick. I am truly dumbfounded. Americans have found a way to make the existence of a deadly virus into an opinion. We are living in a dystopian society.
September 11, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I’m in an upbeat mood. After 180+ days of staying quarantined I am now &!a NJ beachside cottage rental. We have been careful about distancing -we see no one wears masks on the beach and restaurants are packing people in -situations we’re avoiding. We had a magical Labor Day. After sun and surf&enjoying an active day we gathered driftwood and had a fire on the beach after dark. Primal we were joined by friends who are here every year. We we’re distanced but enjoyed a wonderful night. They brought wine and beer. We had fireworks-heavy duty fireworks. They were spectacular. As the impromptu party broke up we were awed by the large misshapen day orange moon arising to the north east of Atlantic City. Beautiful & moving quickly & 10:20 pm. The end of a memorable and special time.
September 11, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I became symptomatic and had to wait for test results. Knowing that I could have unknowingly harmed others and having to wait for DAYS to find out was so difficult. Thankfully, it was a negative, but what a journey.
September 11, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Big lesson this week: stuff is just stuff. I was putting our kiddush cups away in the china cabinet when one flew out of my hand and smashed into the salt water dish that I had inherited from my Bubbe. Pre-pandemic me would have cried, found the glue, pieced it back together, prayed until Pesach that it would work, stressed over it not working, and cry some more. Post-pandemic....ooops, nope, guess we're not there yet! Pandemic-me takes a picture, sends a text to my mother with an "oh well" and tosses it in the trash. It's just a thing. Yes, it gave me joy. It helped me connect with my past, my traditions, and my family. But in the greater scheme of things, when everything is so scary and there's just a fine line between life and death, I'm not going to waste my time worrying about the fine lines in my now cracked salt water dish. No salt water, no tears. Just prayers that next year we can be together!
September 11, 2020
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Additional Material
A small business tries to elicit compliance on business grounds, rather than either public health or moral grounds.
September 11, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I just received my 2021 planner today. I'm looking forward to next year. A safe vaccine will be available, AND we can once again attend large gatherings be they conventions, festivals, weddings or funerals! Can exhale!!
September 11, 2020