Leaving Our Fingerprints

Age

67

Date

03/13/2021

Location

Auburn, NY

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 13, 2020 - Public schools went to a remote-learning model, as did the college for which I teach. Best friend was watching the news constantly and announced that this was "the end of the world as we know it."

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

1. I spend a lot less money because I don't go out to eat, rarely go shopping (not a big on-line shopper), and don't take trips. 2. I don't have family over for gatherings anymore. 3. I don't see people's faces and have a hard time getting to know/recognize others. 4. I have had to become much more tech-savvy. 5. I have not seen my best friend, who lives 2 hrs. away as much as I normally would have. My job has changed dramatically as there are fewer children at school.

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

I have managed better than many people. I have a very busy life (with two jobs), a large family (lots of facetiming and phone calls), and a number of hobbies. I am a person who enjoys alone time (because I don't get a whole lot of it). I belong to a meditation group that meets weekly and exercise regularly.

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

In my workplace, the disconnect that has occurred is simply incredible. We used to be a very close-knit group, but not anymore. The biggest difference I have seen in the community is that businesses have adapted and found other ways to stay afloat.

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?

Maybe? I work in public education, where everyone wears a mask throughout the day, we maintain social distancing, meetings are held via Zoom, and I sanitize everything repeatedly. At home, I don't invite others over, especially no family members for meals.

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?

I teach parttime and have had to put my classes on-line. It was a very big challenge to get everything up and running and were it not for the amazing IT dept. where I work, it would never have become a reality, for me. Although I have adapted, it has been challenging and I greatly miss the face-to-face contact.

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?

I generally do not use social media. I check personal email 1x/day, do not Facebook or any of the other platforms. I do Zooms, facetime to connect to others. Mostly, after spending so much time on the computer because of work, I just want to be off the screen, when I get home. I read.

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

Yes, there were weddings, two graduations, and a retirement trip that were all postponed

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?

The most positive thing about COVID for me, personally, was realizing just how adaptive I can be. My mother always told me I was a survivor and she was so right.

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

Yes, one of my adult children, who spent Christmas in the ICU eight hours from here. It was terrifying!

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?

I wish there would have been a way to help more people realize early-on that this is "real." I wonder if it would have shortened the duration or allowed more people to stay alive.

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

I would say, "Get your head out of the sand!" I realize that our political leaders had much to do with people's disbelief, but come on, use the cerebral cortex with which you were born, already!

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

The new normal may be similar to what happened after 9/11 - people may be more likely to believe that "anything can happen."

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

I think it is really amazing the way so many different institutions (including the libraries) have stepped up and found a way to be of service and allow people to access them. In some ways, the Pandemic has helped us to see what we're really made of.

Babu

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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