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Are you doing anything artistic or creative these days that you weren’t doing before? If so, talk about it.
Definitely the ukulele is one of the joys of this pandemic. I had started to play a few years ago, but then got caught up in life’s persistent activities, and stopped for a while. In January, I joined a weekly community ed class. By March, I was one of the regulars when the class was forced to meet on Zoom. Our teacher hosted a weekly meetup through which I learned about other jam sessions and additional instructors. By a month into quarantine, I was taking three to four classes a week, which led to additional drop-in sessions. I started listening to daily ukulele tips stretched from 5 minutes to nearly an hour, depending upon the presenter. In other words, yes, I am doing something artistic that I wasn’t doing before, and honestly, I think the ukulele is keeping me sane in the chaos of lockdown. Ukulele is a happy folk instrument played by casual and serious musicians. Many of us had not played a musical instrument before, or not seriously pursued musical experiences. It’s tremendously creative and forgiving. Easier than guitar, the uke has only four strings—and I have four fingers—so a relative beginner can make some nice sounds. Our groups are collaborative. Everyone offers positive suggestions. It’s just plain fun. I’m even arranging some of the songs, writing melody, counter-melody and combining the two. Even though I have not met any of them in person, my weekly fingerpicking group is my go-to feel good group. We’ve bonded over music and life stages. We truly care for one another. I hope that someday when we are able to once again gather in public, we will actually meet. Because of zoom, our regular groups consist of people from all over the globe. In lockdown, Australia can be next door. I enjoy an occasional class given by the guy in Albuquerque. One teacher is in England and one of my study partners this week is in Italy. I have new friends in Texas and California...and I’m outside of Boston. That’s the cool thing about Zoom sessions that wouldn’t be possible —nor have even crossed my mind — before Covid. Before Covid I didn’t take it that seriously. During quarantine, ukulele is my lifeline. I find I can lose myself in the music, and in the camaraderie. I’m smiling at the end of each long ukulele jam session.
September 3, 2020
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
So much has happened not only to me this week, but also nationally as well. I think I'll start with how the pandemic is affecting me. Winter in the pandemic is so hard. Especially while being in school. I almost never go outside due to the cold, and for whatever reason my friends don't call me as often, and I have such lower energy. It's mostly due to other things in my life as well, but I had 2 panic attacks this week alone, and I just feel like I'm losing myself. Staying inside definitely isn't helping. What really makes this part of the pandemic difficult (and much more difficult than in the start) really is the weather and the winter. When the pandemic "began" for us in late March, the weather was turning nicer, and I very often sat outside on my porch to do reading, and even just read outside on the grass, breathing in the fresh air, seeing the beautiful sky, flowers and greenery, and being so thankful that I lived in such a beautiful, lush place. Even in the Fall, I would still read outside, as it was pretty warm during most of the fall. Even when it was chillier it was still tolerable enough to sit outside with a long-sleeve shirt or my flannel and read my printouts, handwrite notes or assignments, and take out my kindle to give my eyes some respite as I read my pdf textbooks. Thinking about it now, I just really miss when I would sit outside and do my linguistics homework by hand, and even listen to the lectures while taking notes outside. Now those are no longer options. It is Winter. It is so cold, and I'm cooped up inside. Worse yet is that the pandemic is at its worst, and I see one of my close friends occasionally going to maskless parties, so I have to stay away from her for at least a week or more to stay safe, so I can't even see other people. There's often nights when it's especially freezing, and I have to cover myself from head to toe with my blanket to be comfortable. Before the pandemic, I was never one to pay much attention or mind to the seasons, but now I'm very attuned to them and how they affect me, especially when I can't go out in nature with a foot of snow out. When January started I was excited to go walk on a frozen lake, but now I just want it to be warm again. Maybe when I've got some free time tomorrow I should put on my snow gear and go outside after my classes are over. My sisters have been doing that, so it might be a good idea.
February 4, 2021