Leaving Our Fingerprints

Age

60

Date

05/30/2020

Location

Ballston Lake, 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?

Not sure of the date; perhaps late February or early March I started seeing advice to be prepared to self-quarantine for two weeks. The reasons weren't well-explained at the time. On March 16 I learned that someone at Mass I attended on March 8 tested positive, so I self-quarantined until March 22. I have no idea what the date of the first case in Balkston Lake was.

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

Only grocery shop once every 2-3 weeks. Wear a mask. More online shopping. No eating out or meeting friends for food and drink. Have only eaten one meal with another human since March 16.

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

I feel the same as I have since my husband died suddenly on January 1, 2019. I miss him more than I miss anyone else, and will still miss him when others get to see their loved ones again. Don't do anything special to relieve stress. Just focus on one day at a time.

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

Don't know how to answer this since I hardly go anywhere and am not out in the community. I'm a little surprised at how little change there has been to the mean-spiritedness of political discussions, and that this has become just another cultural/political battle.

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?

Have used Zoom a handful of times. Other than that,no change.

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

Missed my cousin's wedding, my niece's graduation and a family funeral. As a second-year widow, I was planning to get back to the gym, to volunteering and traveling after not doing much in 2019. That's all off the table now. Not doing anything instead. Just repeating 2019 in some ways, except without opportunities to be with other people.

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

I have two dogs that I have had since 2007. They haven't impacted my day any differently than before.

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

I doubled all my charitable donations. Put a rainbow in my window. Hard to notice anything else when I don't go anywhere.

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

Yes, but not a close enough relative to know what it was like. I know more people who had other health problems to address.

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

Not a close relative. There was a small service which I could not attend because of the limits on attendance.

What do you wish you knew before the pandemic began?

Nothing that would have changed anything.

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

Other than having good general p!ans for caring for their elders, I hope future generations live their lives without focusing on preparing for a pandemic.

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

Can't speak for anyone but myself. I will remain hesitant to travel amd to be in crowded places. I hope *we" stop using the phrase "new normal."

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

n/a

Kathy

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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