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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I get seasonal allergies every spring: juniper and elm. Sneezing, coughing, itchiness -- it's awful. Last spring I got the usual symptoms, but mixed in was this fear that perhaps it was not just a cold, not just hay fever, but ... [scary music] ... the Coronavirus! Aaaaah! Of all the symptoms that indicated you'd caught Covid-19, the one I fixated on was the loss of smell and taste. I put a container of strongly scented vanilla hand lotion next to my bed. If I woke up and felt particularly anxious that perhaps I had been exposed to Covid-19, I would open the container and take a cautious sniff. I have a small collection of perfume, too, but since I was working from home, I didn't always put any on. The levels in the bottles stayed the same for months.
April 6, 2023
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We hear a lot these days about the economic impact of the pandemic. Has this been on your mind? If so, tell us what you're thinking.
I have thought a lot about the economic impact of the pandemic. When I think about it, I mostly feel guilt because my household has been secure and comfortable this whole time. However, I know that others are not. My husband and I both have post-graduate degrees and have received our full salaries throughout the pandemic. We have two fridges, a deep freezer, and shelves full of food. We can order take-out whenever we want, and we can buy any new gadget or clothing we feel like buying. We have a lot of privilege, and we realize it. We know not everyone does, but we don't know how to make a difference for others except by donating to charities.
May 28, 2021