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Text & Image
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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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.
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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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
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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 semana mejoré mucho. Solamente el sábado tuve ese dolor, como un cuchillo que corta el pulmón derecho y no deja pasar el aire. Pero una bolsa de agua caliente logró hacerlo desaparecer por completo. Pude respirar. El domingo nos visitó brevemente mi primo Juan Carlos y su familia. En este momento, su esposa está esperando un bebé. Nos llevó un ramo de flores: uno para mí y otro para mi mamá. Esas flores me alegraron mucho. Es el tipo de detalles que me alegra el día. En la foto está el ramo de hierberas. Le tengo mucho cariño a Juan Carlos porque lleva el nombre de mi hermano que murió. Es algo lindo recibir un detalle así, inesperado. Reconozco que me he quedado con una capacidad respiratoria limitada. Acciones que no me producían fatiga, ahora me cuestan. Pero muchas cosas mejoraron: mi salud, la cuestión económica y una que otra cosita por ahí que me ilusiona. Para mí, eso es un gran avance. Tengo mucha fe en que el parto de la esposa de mi primo se llevará a cabo de forma normal, sin ningún tropiezo. Pienso que es un gran reto enfrentar una situación de vida así en este contexto de pandemia. Espero que como familia lo logren superar con tranquilidad y seguridad.
September 13, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
A gal was once set to retire; Thus, many a trip did desire, But COVID* appeared-- 'Twas just what she feared-- No travel would henceforth transpire.
September 16, 2020
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This is a picture of the dark orange sky last Wednesday because of fires in our area. This was taken in broad daylight, the streetlights were all still on and it was dark all morning and dim all day. Worst day of the pandemic for us so far because it just felt terrifying and wrong, like nuclear winter. Looking at the outdoors and nature is such a big part of how I'm getting through this terrifying time with the pandemic, the election and the threat of more years under Trump looming. How can anyone still deny climate change is real?
September 16, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
The weather turned much colder and time to prepare for the next season. Reminded me I’d taken this picture of “The last Chapter of the Ant and The Grasshopper”. I am working on canning the last of the quince and the cornelian cherries... the abandoned crop at the farm...both kind of metaphors for the feeling many around me seem to have. We’re older, not in vogue, too much trouble in the eyes of some... yet this time has shown me beauty and importance in the tiniest of things. I have 4 friends who are ready to leave this “earthly” plane... too much pain, too little hope...life is getting too hard for too few rewards...Too much chaos, too much hate around us... there are moments when I get it, but I’m struggling on the other end... I have too many projects, too many things I want to get to, and I keep thinking people will get it! I’ve been tracking back the kernels of truth that underlie so many beliefs that are driving the polarization of the nation right now. Maybe I am the naive one, head in the sand, rose colored glasses...hard to believe ignorance, greed and hate can so easily be spread... i guess it’s the evolutionary leftover - our reward for climbing out of the water - to be constantly on the alert for danger so we can survive another day...
September 22, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
This week has been the worst of all. The west coast is engulfed in smoke and horrible air pollution from the worst wildfires in history. Climate change is here and it's catastrophic. We are now totally trapped in our homes by smoke and pollution. We can no longer pretend that there is even a semblance of our normal former lives out there in the world anymore. We can't go out into nature, we can't go to large inside gathering spaces (Malls, movie theaters) not if we value our health. We can no longer pretend that things aren't that bad. There are no longer any distractions that are not harmful or self-destructive. Everyday Donald Trump tells the blue states how much he hates us. If he wins again that will be the last nail in the coffin. If he doesn't win, that will be troublesome too as we will have to pry him out of the white house. It's as if whatever Higher Power you believe in has put out their hand like a big STOP sign in front of our faces and has said, "WAKE UP AND DEAL WITH THIS SHIT! Climate change is real, you are killing the planet and now she is fighting back with pandemics, fire, hurricanes etc! Also you have a dictatorial ass-hole in the White House and things are only going to get worse! (America has always had "honorable" men (not perfect) as president, now we know exactly how 3rd world countries with dictators feel.)
September 22, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
She's 90 and all alone in the house where four children nine grandchildren and a dozen great-grandchildren once gathered now a virus dictates no visitors no proximity no embraces she's 90 and all alone we cry for her and with her as loneliness ravages the heart
September 23, 2020
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¿Está haciendo algo artístico o creativo en estos días, que usted no hacía antes? Si es así, cuéntenos acerca de eso.
Aprendí a dibujar y usar crayones pastel en el colegio cuando tenía 14 años. Realicé algunas pinturas y luego todo aquello cayó en el olvido, me dediqué a otras ramas del arte. Con la pandemia, decidí retomar el dibujo, algunos con crayones pastel y otros, con acuarelas, una técnica que siempre me ha costado dominar. Dicen que cuando aprendes a pintar en óleo de primero, luego es un enredo lograr la técnica de acuarela. Eso me ocurrió a mí. Comencé con algunas flores y paisajes en acuarela y luego decidí dibujar y pintar a mis mascotas: tres gatas y una perra llamada Piscis. En la foto pueden observar el retrato de Piscis. Con los ejercicios de pintura intentaba aplacar la ansiedad de esos días. Los trabajos se habían detenido, había demasiado tiempo libre. No me apetecía invertirlo en oficios de la casa. Así que pensé en volver a la pintura. El resultado ha sido un diario de viaje que tenía guardado por ahí, en el que he ido pintando paulatinamente flores, paisajes y retratos de mis mascotas. Este diario de viaje quedará como un testimonio de mi actividad artística durante la pandemia.
September 24, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Seeing this created a rare release of tension for me. I don't know these neighbors but they have kept their pink flamingos busy during the pandemic -- they built a garden; went camping; got on a school bus; and now they are at the 'fly-in' watching a movie. This makes me laugh, and Dad too. I wish I could laugh more but I always feel a sense of tension deep in my bones this year.
September 25, 2020
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Has anything changed dramatically in your life since the pandemic began? If so, talk about it.
I think, for us, it’s important to note that our space has changed dramatically. Luckily, our finances have not (except for now with my LOA). We have built and finished the barn, we are moving forward with the pool and ... recently bought a boat. I recognize our wealth, our privilege and our situation as being very fortunate. One thing I do think is important and curious to note is that all of these improvements, purchases and changes all are centered on our family and spending more time together as a family!
September 27, 2020
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Have people in your community supported one another during the pandemic? Talk about why or why not, and maybe give some examples.
I found this spider living in a water tub quite happy by itself and I think there’s a number of people that would be more than happy with that existence. The preppers are certainly calling for it - prepare for the inevitable collapse, and hunker down. Close your curtains and go to your safe room. Certain talk shows are fomenting it and gleefully stirring the pot. So that thread Is a constant under current running through a part of our community. It’s available on the social media platform of your choice 24/7. So I avoid the TV news and try to avoid the panic as well, but is that being foolish? A brief glance at the local paper touts CT doing well, and Phase 3 openings coming. Are things opening because we know more and things are under control or because we have Covid fatigue and are willing to risk more? I ventured out shopping for supplies today. First stop was paint store for stain for deck maintenance. That makes it feel like we plan to still be around next year. The staff was helpful wore their masks and task completed. I did notice that as soon as I left the store masks came off when it was just the staff together ... i guess that’s a pod? Then l noticed 5 people in line at an Urgent Care center offering Covid tests. I know some have to go every 10 days for testing so it’s helpful to have convenient places to go and people were distancing but there was a hint of anxiety in the air there, a bit like a lottery line when the jack pot gets big. Then to the grocery store which was packed... more people than I’ve seen in months. People were milling about and I saw conversations in aisles as people passed - Not out of fear or how dare you invade my space, but with determination and purpose, a nod , a quick pass, not In panic and it almost felt like the good old days only people were wearing masks. But then an invite from a friend for a visit and my husband very concerned with where have they been, will they mask, how do we social distance, and we usually have a meal when we get together so how do we accommodate that?. Do we continue to just say no, continuing to prioritize physical over emotional and social needs... Not easy trying to find the balance these days... it was almost easier earlier when there were no decisions to be made... lock down eliminated options.
September 27, 2020
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¿Está haciendo algo artístico o creativo en estos días, que usted no hacía antes? Si es así, cuéntenos acerca de eso.
... Con respecto a si he realizado algo de arte ... sí. He retomado el puntillismo en mandalas, de hecho llevo dos semanas pintando atrapasueños como el de la foto. Para conseguir esta madera en corte láser debo ir al centro de la ciudad y comprarla. Hacía meses que no conseguía dónde comprarlas pues cerraron los negocios. Y antes sólo pintaba troncos de madera, ahora es que pinto cortes. Esta es una de las tantas mandalas que he vuelto a pintar, me tranquiliza hacerlas y varias personas las han pedido. Funcionó experimentar con ellas, es algo bello que me gusta hacer en el tiempo libre. Espero poder llevarlas pronto. ...
September 27, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
This last week I got to spend some time with my sisters ... at the lake. [One] has been in isolation for 7 months in Florida. This trip north was very much a shock to her system where she enjoyed eating in restaurants and being with family. I think she feared exposure while in Florida knowing she was by herself and no one to help take care of her should she be ill. I am so thankful to having my family around me and so thankful that I have not isolated myself during COVID. We have lives our lives and remained healthy following guidelines. This picture is a picture from the lake. It is my happy spot and I really enjoyed my two days with my sisters
September 28, 2020
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Does this time of the year feel different than it normally does, or different than it should? If so, give some examples of what feels different.
This time of year feels completely different from years past. We are celebrating the Jewish New Year without friends and family. These are contemplative holidays for individuals, which are habitually celebrated together, in a room with more than 300 others. So while we reflect on our lives and how we can make the world a better place, we are used to being with at least some of the rest of the world. This year, as we start the fast for Yom Kippur, the day of both atone-ment and at-ONE-meant, we are not with others. We will have a simple meal at home, and then turn on a computer for Zoom. It won’t be the same. In years past, it has been a balancing act of serving enough food before the 25 hour fast, followed by a frantic drive to services. Yom Kippur is the most popular service of the year. Parking was always complicated! We would rush into the building to get good seats, hugging friends along the way. This year, there will be no driving. No rush hour traffic, and sadly, no hugs. It feels stingy to shop for such a small amount of food for such important holidays. Setting the table for only two seems too little. Cooking for two feels selfish. I’m used to preparing holiday meals for everyone. On top of the alone-ness of this usually social moment, this is the first year that we do not have my dad, who died just 6 weeks ago, with us. In fact, this the first year in our 47 years together that we do not have any parents. This photo shows two place settings, for just us, in our kitchen. Four memorial candles for remembering two mothers and two fathers whose earthly time has passed. at the ready. Apple and honey dish. A round, freshly baked, high-holiday challah rests under the blue and yellow cover. I remember the family rule of no TV for high holidays. Now zoom-on-TV will be the essential ingredient for connecting to the world. Is this year different? Entirely different. May it be a meaningful day of contemplation for those who wish to celebrate. May we have communal services, in person, with hugs—lots of hugs—in the near future.
September 28, 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.
By "restrictions," I refer to the necessary precautions we must take to ensure that the virus does not spread to us or through us. My husband has Stage 4 prostate cancer. My cousin is in hospice with cancer. Our two families are the best of friends and the two of them (my cousin and my husband) used to have gigs playing guitar together a few times a year. We used to go to listen to live music, in town and out of town, and they hosted house concerts as well. None of this is safe during the pandemic, regardless of outdoor venues and social distancing guidelines. The photo is of a country road in Southwest Illinois, taken yesterday evening on a drive. On a normal Saturday evening, we would have been accompanied by my cousin and his wife, and our destination would have been somewhere to listen to music. While we are fortunate to have classic VWs to take out for a ride, and being able to afford the gasoline, it is still a lonely road. The sun is setting on their lives, and we can't spend these last days together doing what we all love.
September 28, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
This past week was my mom's birthday. I considered driving home from college to visit her but instead stayed on campus because I knew I couldn't really spend time with her. My mom is immunocompromised and has been in 100% isolation since the beginning of this pandemic in March. Mid-March I got a sinus infection. Because the symptoms were similar to covid and we couldn't be to safe, so I moved out of my home to live with my cousins from March until moving into school Aughust. The picture above is from one of my daily visits with my mom. We would sit on opposite sides of the two-car garage with masks and hang out. As I was leaving every day she would close the garage door and we would tough our hands to the glass window of the garage because this is the closest we could be while remaining safe. It's scary not knowing when all of this will be over or when she can resume her normal life without the fear of catching the virus, which would be fatal. Which I guess is why we just have to take things day by day doing the best we can to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. Happy Birthday, Mom :)
September 29, 2020