Jackie
Covid-History Item Type Metadata
Age
63
Date
10/16/2020
Location
Queensbury, 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?
March 26, when there was no longer employment for me. I don't know when the first case here was, but my reaction changed in April when I realized this isn't going to be short lived.
How is your life different now than it was before the pandemic?
I no longer have a job I loved so most days I search for activities that are productive and/or meaningful, somewhat successfully. I pay more attention to nature and the weather, and exercise because I used to move around a lot at work.
How are you feeling? What are you doing to relieve stress?
Lately, there's ups and downs. I'm meditating again, which helped tremendously in the spring.
What have you noticed has changed in your community since the outbreak? What has surprised you?
My community is a residential development with wooded areas so this spring and summer I saw many more birds and animals right outside my house.
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?
I'm now "retired" but will work at the early voting polling place later this month. I'm told we will have masks and plexiglass. At home with my son who is a teacher assistant, we keep air circulating with some windows open, although it's chilly, plus lots of hand washing and wiping down.
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?
I was not laid off or furloughed. I had a job with no guaranteed hours so I'm still an employee but since April have had zero hours, except for several for online training. There is no guessing as to when I'd be scheduled again. I do not collect unemployment. I see this type of situation as part of the uncounted unemployed. I still have health insurance.
Are you working from home? What adjustments or challenges are you experiencing?
No, except for online training. I would comment that for my marketing work and my work as an election inspector, online training is great! I find I learn things more easily with starting and stopping videos.
Do you have children at home? How’s it going?
I have my one son, age 23, at home. It's going great. I often think I'd be lonely if he wasn't here because I'm staying home so much.
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
Did you have to postpone any major life events? (e.g. Graduation, wedding, major birthday) What did you do instead?
n/a
Do you have animals? Did you adopt a pet? How have they impacted your day?
No and no, but I'm considering getting some goldfish.
What positive things did you contribute to or notice take place?
I now have time for following through with an idea I had before the pandemic. I design and sew utensil pouches so people can carry their own cutlery instead of using disposable. It's part of my mission to help the environment. Also, I think it's great that people are driving and flying less.
Did you or someone you know contract COVID-19? What was it like?
No, although I know several people who had symptoms and who either weren't tested or did not test positive. All said their energy was depleated.
If you lost someone during the pandemic, how did you celebrate their lives?
n/a
What do you wish you knew before the pandemic began?
That our government previously had a pandemic team.
What would you want future generations to know about the 2020 pandemic? How would you recommend they prepare for it?
From my point of view, I would say it affects everything going forward, from employment opportunities to travel choices. It's a game changer. I know I won't go back to living the way I did before, such as driving often to places just for entertainment and eating out frequently.
How do you think this pandemic will change how we behave going forward? What will the “new normal” look like?
As I noted in the previous question, I can speak for myself on this. I think how "we behave" and the "new normal" remains to be seen.
Is there anything else you would like to add that hasn't already been asked above?
n/a
Dublin Core
Title
Jackie
Subject
COVID-19 (Disease)
Publisher
Southern Adirondack Library System
Date
10/16/2020
Contributor
Southern Adirondack Library System
Rights
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Language
English
Type
Covid History
Identifier
12083674028
Coverage
Coronavirus Pandemic
Collection
Citation
“Jackie,” Leaving Our Fingerprints on History, accessed April 20, 2024, https://fingerprints.sals.edu/omeka/items/show/241.