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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Thick plastic separates me from the taxi driver. He speaks with a strong accent, and the plastic muffles the sound so much that we can hardly understand each other. He's taking me home from the airport, where I've just returned from my mother's funeral. She died of COVID a month ago, and with everyone's vaccine schedules this was the earliest we could have a service. When the driver had politely opened the door for me and asked if my trip was for work or pleasure, I didn't even know what to say. I reminded myself that he's from a different culture and language, and it's just small talk after all. But once he was in the driver's seat, it took a lot of shouting and gesticulating through the plastic to get home. A masked funeral, COVID, losing my mom, delivering a eulogy, the awkward reunions with long-lost relatives, all of it is impossible to describe. But something about that plastic was almost as disturbing, and it was hard not to cry.
May 7, 2021
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Things are looking up lately. I got my first vaccine shot and will get my second one in about a week, and my daughter's dad got his too, so we are feeling a little more like life is approaching something livable. My daughter started soccer, I joined a gym (all outdoors!) and we've had an outdoor playdate with some friends. All of these small things add up to a big boost in our outlook. I also started therapy and that's been a huge relief. Amazing how tangled up my emotions and my thinking became over the last year. I really needed a way forward and therapy has been even more helpful than I expected. Overall, doing well. My co-worker has family in India and she is really struggling with what they are going through, so there's always that other side that reminds you that there is still a raging pandemic and even though we are feeling positive, there's still a ways to go. Humanity is in such a weird place right now. It's worrisome, but the best I can do is model positivity, kindness, and empathy so that my daughter doesn't fret or feel powerless. It's not always easy but thankfully it's getting easier.
April 24, 2021