Leaving Our Fingerprints

Age

64

Date

09/16/2020

Location

Warrensburg, New York

When did the impact of COVID-19 first occur to you? How did your reaction to COVID-19 change between then and the first case in your town?

I first started paying attention to COVID when the cruise ship outbreak occurred. I think it struck home on March 16, 2020 when the Governor shut down the state. My reaction was to clear my calendar of all events. My calendar has never been so empty. I am unaware of any case in my town.

How is your life different now than it was before the pandemic?

I am retired and had a very active social calendar. Now every day is the same with nothing to look forward to. I also have done more cooking than ever before.

How are you feeling? What are you doing to relieve stress?

I am feeling fine, but i notice that i frustrate easily. If a simple task does not go well, i tend to swear profusely, or walk away from it if i can. To relieve stress i forgive myself from the above mentioned outbursts and tell myself that i am staying alive.

What have you noticed has changed in your community since the outbreak? What has surprised you?

In the beginning, traffic and just seeing the library closed and the school closed, but now as these places are reopening, i am surprised by how many people aren’t taking this as seriously as i.

Are you a business owner who has had to close? If you are still open, how have you had to adjust how your business operates?

n/a

Are you an essential employee? What do you do? What precautions are being taken at your workplace? What precautions are implementing at home?

n/a

Are you an employee who has been laid off or furloughed? Were you able to get unemployment? Were you able to retain your health insurance?

n/a

Are you working from home? What adjustments or challenges are you experiencing?

n/a

Do you have children at home? How’s it going?

n/a

If you’re a student, was school canceled? Were you able to complete your studies online? Do you think you’ll be back on campus in the fall?

n/a

How are you using social media, the Internet, or digital platforms during the pandemic?

My book club meets weekly via zoom and as i serve on several Boards And each seems to use a different platform so i have a wide variety of apps for gathering. Also i am embarrassed to admit my weekly screen time is now always above 8 hours a day.

Did you have to postpone any major life events? (e.g. Graduation, wedding, major birthday) What did you do instead?

I had both a niece and a nephew change their weddings celebrations to just themselves and officiants.

Do you have animals? Did you adopt a pet? How have they impacted your day?

n/a

What positive things did you contribute to or notice take place?

I am wondering if my difficulty in answering this question is a statement in itself.

Did you or someone you know contract COVID-19? What was it like?

n/a

If you lost someone during the pandemic, how did you celebrate their lives?

I lost a cousin in the beginning, i personally did not do anything beyond a monetary contribution and make phone calls of support to his wife.

What do you wish you knew before the pandemic began?

I’m glad i didn’t know anything. I think i saw it as a challenge in the beginning, testing our resiliency. Okay, so we’ll celebrate Easter alone without family gatherings, we got this. By the time we got to The Fourth of July, i started to feel sorry for myself. Now i am thinking of Thanksgiving and Christmas without family, and i don’t “got this” at all.

What would you want future generations to know about the 2020 pandemic? How would you recommend they prepare for it?

This could not have been prevented, but it could have been mitigated. Don’t let anyone polarize Americans to the extent that we are helpless in the face of a virus.

How do you think this pandemic will change how we behave going forward? What will the “new normal” look like?

To be honest, i can not think that far ahead. Right now my sole focus is on Election Day, after that we can plan one way or the other.

Is there anything else you would like to add that hasn't already been asked above?

For the first time in my life i have read through my entire stack of “To Read” books, every newspaper, magazine, and instruction manual n the house.

Elaine

Covid-History Item Type Metadata

Age

Date

Location

When did the impact of COVID-19 first occur to you? How did your reaction to COVID-19 change between then and the first case in your town?

How is your life different now than it was before the pandemic?

How are you feeling? What are you doing to relieve stress?

What have you noticed has changed in your community since the outbreak? What has surprised you?

Are you a business owner who has had to close? If you are still open, how have you had to adjust how your business operates?

Are you an essential employee? What do you do? What precautions are being taken at your workplace? What precautions are implementing at home?

Are you an employee who has been laid off or furloughed? Were you able to get unemployment? Were you able to retain your health insurance?

Are you working from home? What adjustments or challenges are you experiencing?

Do you have children at home? How’s it going?

If you’re a student, was school canceled? Were you able to complete your studies online? Do you think you’ll be back on campus in the fall?

Did you have to postpone any major life events? (e.g. Graduation, wedding, major birthday) What did you do instead?

Do you have animals? Did you adopt a pet? How have they impacted your day?

What positive things did you contribute to or notice take place?

Did you or someone you know contract COVID-19? What was it like?

If you lost someone during the pandemic, how did you celebrate their lives?

What do you wish you knew before the pandemic began?

How do you think this pandemic will change how we behave going forward? What will the “new normal” look like?

Is there anything else you would like to add that hasn't already been asked above?

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