Leaving Our Fingerprints

Age

68

Date

09/17/2021

Location

Porter Corners NY 12859

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?

Seeing masks, riding our bikes on empty streets on Broadway, Saratoga Springs, two of our four adult children unwilling to hug or get together indoors. My husband, son, daughter, contracted Covid in Dec, 2020. Fevers, weak, aches for a week or so. My sense of taste was “off” for four months. After I had Covid, I was less terrified and thought the fear many people had may have been overblown.

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

My husband and I have chosen to live our lives as normally as we can. We get our antibodies checked every three months and our natural immunity has not waned. We are currently on a 6 week cross-country camping trip. We wear masks and socially distance when it is mandated.

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

I feel great and don’t allow Covid to stress me out. At 68, I’m realizing that life is short. I know many people who have had Covid; no one was hospitalized unless they had a pre-existing condition and all are fine now.

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

It’s surprising how terrified many people are and some wear masks even when bike riding alone. Most are getting vaccinated in spite conflicting information retrieval vaccine efficacy an possible safety issues.

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 As a retired teacher, I’m glad I’m not involved in the craziness that has beset our educational system.

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?

No

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

Fact checking, responding to posts that foment fear, keeping in touch with friends and family members who have socially isolated themselves due to fear of Covid

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

We delayed our cross-country camping trip that was planned for 2020 because National Parks had closed. Instead we took four camping trips in New York State.

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

I have a 3 year old dog. He’s great and doesn’t fear Covid! My adult son wouldn’t let his children pet him for a while which I thought was due to baseless fear.

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

Family members and close friends became closer because they were in “the bubble.” I personally didn’t have a bubble , especially once I had Covid and antibodies.

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

For me, it was like the flu. I was much sicker with a longer recovery time when I had pneumonia. My son’s girlfriend felt sick for longer; the rest of us were ill for two weeks, give or take. I had no cough or breathing issues.

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

N/A

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

Lose weight if you’re obese, stay active, heat healthy food. Build up your immune system. Don’t live in fear; fear creates stress; stress negatively impact s your immune system.

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

I fervently hope we return to some semblance or normalcy. The possibility of obsessively hand washing, sanitizing, maintaining physical distancing is emotionally and possibly physically damaging. A society that requires “showing your papers” for entering places is unacceptable to me.

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

Turning the unvaccinated into outcasts is not the answer.

Terry

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?

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?

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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