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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
My brother-in-law died of lung cancer on Nov. 15--only four weeks after the initial diagnosis. Due to P’s wishes, plus the omnipresent COVID-19, no services were held. Relatives gathered at his homestead in Georgia, and although the majority of the older crowd in attendance did their utmost to follow virus protocol, it is truly quite difficult to refrain from hugging and comforting devastated family members. For the most part, we sat outside in an effort to socially distance. Conversation turned, of course, to the cancer that took P’s life. Neither I nor my husband (P's brother) has ever smoked, but the sister, nephew, son and daughter-in-law of the deceased were all puffing away. “Aren’t you afraid of developing lung cancer?” I asked. “No, it’ll never happen to me,” P's sister replied. “I don’t even worry about it.” I was aghast. Does she think she possesses some type of all-powerful immunity? How stupid can you get? Then, COVID-19 entered the discussion.Some of this group profess that the virus is a hoax. Others believe it is real but are taking no preventative measures. “If I get it, I get it,” said one of the 30-somethings. “I don’t want someone else telling me how to live.” Again, how stupid can you get? Just use some common sense and wear the damn mask.
November 24, 2020
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What's one obstacle you've faced in the past week? How did you handle it?
One Obstacle that I have faced during this Pandemic is Lack of Sleep, because I was thinking about how the virus started and if there will be a quick solution to this problem. It has been so stressful to say the least! My mental state was so fuzzy, due to thinking about how life would be If I got sick with COVID. Things will not be the same.This lack of sleep or insomnia had an effect on my studies. I was used to being physically present on the college campus. This provided me with the surety that I could easily ask for clarity when I was unsure of the subject matter being taught. This opportunity was not readily available when I needed it. It was very difficult for me in the beginning, but my mother's words of encouragement pushed me along. I learnt to email my professors and wait for their response, sometimes which was not immediate.This is how I literally understood the phrase," Patience is Virtue". Indeed this was a lesson to learn the hard way.I prayed and worked very hard to get to this point!
August 21, 2020