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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
In June 2020 we masked up and went to friends to celebrate the life of a tree that was burned in the fires in 2017. She seemed to be fine, but she couldn’t recover. Two traumas: Fire and Pandemic. I’m a poet and a photographer. I took this picture from the road as we drove to their home. My poem: Black Walnut In the distance a tall black walnut tree, an eclipse of her former self. Her branches, darkened by fire, reach toward Venus and the moon glowing luminescent. We approach with trepidation and the burden of farewell. Tomorrow brings sunrise, chainsaws, and men who may or may not appreciate she is Malka,* supreme in her realm. Sitting on the ground beneath her once verdant beauty, our mouths hold words, splendid jewels of love rendered into poems to surround her, a blanket shimmering with silver and gold threads. In the moonlight we reach arms around her trunk, hold strong to who she was as Malka: A haven for birds nesting, boys climbing, small rabbits shading. Nothing left to say but farewell and thank you for the hundred years of your presence. ©J.V. *Hebrew Origin: Queen Great news: Several months later a new young shoot grew from the stump of her life. I try to be optimistic. Though 2021 with no end in sight for the Pandemic is a challenge. I have started taking distant walks with very close friends, masked and grateful. I do walk every day with our dog. He doesn't wear a mask.
February 18, 2021
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Well, we are still staying in a cabin at a camp that is away from most people. This is because of Covid but not because we don't want to be around people but because our lives have changed so much due to Covid. I am still dealing with Long Covid so I have not been able to return to work and so staying out at camp is a nice quiet place to be. Also for our kids the programs they have done in the past either haven't returned or have returned but we are not comfortable having our child indoors with a lot of other kids so we haven't signed them up for those programs. That also gave us the opportunity to stay out here and homeschooling can be done anywhere. My parents were traveling out west this week and my dad had a health emergency. It wasn't covid related but he had to be in the hospital and have emergency surgery at a hospital that was inundated with Covid cases so my mom couldn't be with him and it was difficult to communicate with his doctors. That left us unsure of how he was. That was challenging and reminded me of those who have family members and friends who get covid and can't be with them.
October 4, 2021