As I sit here typing this, I cannot believe how much our world has changed. The COVID-19 Pandemic has quickly spread throughout the world. The White House was briefed about it back in December, yet our government neglected to act on it and now we are facing the worst health and economic crisis of modern day times that could cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars. Please don’t ever forget that President Donald Trump called Coronavirus a HOAX. Click here for proof, watch til the end and please remember this come November!
These are very uncertain times, but I try to remain positive that we will get through this, recognizing the next few months may be some of the toughest yet to come. I’m going to use this unexpected time at home, practicing social distancing so that I do not risk catching it myself and spreading to others, to be creative, do yoga, connect with family and friends over the phone, through FaceTime and video chats, reflect on my accomplishments, set new goals and stay focused on things I CAN control. I’m sharing my journey throughout this experience from my apartment in Brooklyn to hopefully inspire and help others along the way. I encourage you all to take this time to do the things you always wanted to do but didn’t have the time for. Write. Read. Paint. Meditate. Exercise. Cook. Love. Laugh. But above all else, PLEASE STAY HOME.
Here is my daily timeline of events since early March:
March 6, 2020: The novel coronavirus, now referred to as COVID-19, was a global health emergency but the WHO had yet to declare it a pandemic. Single digit numbers of cases were popping up in cities across the U.S., but the first official case was documented in Seattle in late January. The virus was here, even though I had been following the outbreak in Wuhan since early January, wondering why we weren’t preparing for the death and destruction that rocked China for the last two months.
We went out that night and met friends for drinks to celebrate March birthdays. We talked about the stupid people buying all of the toilet paper, but our friends said they were actually starting to stock up on food and supplies. I jokingly said I better get to the store before all hell breaks loose.
March 7, 2020: The March birthday celebrations continue. Good thing we got them in when we did. We went out for drinks and dinner with other friends in Brooklyn, but I never would’ve guessed that would’ve been our last dinner with them for a very long time. We went to Joya, one of the best Thai places in Carroll Gardens, and enjoyed a really lovely meal full of good food, wine and conversation. We talked about how crazy this virus was getting, how quickly it seemed to be spreading and that we couldn’t believe some of the stories we had been seeing and hearing from overseas. We had no idea how much our world would change over the next week.
March 8, 2020: There are now more than 550 cases in the U.S. More than 108,000 have been infected across the world, and 3,800 people have died. I’m still baffled that we seem so ill prepared for this, as we watched this virus over the last two months ravage China, then South Korea, now Italy and other parts of Europe. HOW DID WE NOT REALIZE WE WERE NEXT?
March 9, 2020: The news is starting to get scary. We decide to cancel the birthday dinner reservations we had in Hell’s Kitchen and stay local in Brooklyn instead. Less people, more space, no subway needed. We rode bikes since it was a warm, beautiful day. We ate outside away from others (not by request, but it just so happened to work out that way). We enjoyed a delicious dinner of calamari, lobster roll (Connecticut style with no mayo, just butter and lemon) and mac & cheese at Red Hook Lobster Pound. The outdoor seating was an unexpected surprise on this 70-degree day, considering it was still technically winter, even though it never quite felt like it this season in NYC. Although I was feeling a bit anxious about Coronavirus, it felt good to be out and everyone else in Brooklyn seemed pretty relaxed.
March 10, 2020: Italy goes into full lockdown. All 60 million residents are restricted from leaving their homes. Schools close. There are bans on public events. The streets of Rome, Florence and Venice are empty. It was hard to understand this was happening in Italy. I looked on in sadness at the images of completely deserted landmarks that I felt grateful to have a chance to visit before. What I didn’t realize at the time is that we were next, that the unthinkable was only days away from happening here.
March 11, 2020: The WHO finally declares the Coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. I had feared this day and now it was here. This was the day the world as we know it changed forever. I knew shit was about to hit the fan, but had no idea how hard it would hit. The virus seems to be spreading like wildfire and has now infected 118,000 people and killed 4,300 worldwide, with the number of cases in the U.S. at 1,200 (twice what it was three days ago). Trump announced a ban on travelers from all 26 countries in Europe for the next 30 days, which caused all Americans overseas to panic that they wouldn’t be able to get back into the country when the restrictions went in two days later. My boss calls to say CA and NY residents are being asked to work from home for at least the next two weeks, since these are two ‘hot spots’. I breathe a sigh of relief that I won’t need to travel while this is going on. The NBA cancels its season (followed by NHL, MLB and MLS). Broadway is going dark due to an usher testing positive for Coronavirus. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson also test positive in Australia. WTF is going on? I text my closest girlfriends from college and we are all in awe at how much the world changed in a matter of hours.
March 12, 2020: I hit the grocery store as soon as it opens and it’s already packed. There had been a run on things all across the country, like toilet paper and hand sanitizer. I was pleased to see we still had some left in my smaller grocery store in Brooklyn. I waited about 20 minutes in line to pay, but it wasn’t that bad. You could see the unspoken looks of anxiety on faces, but no one was really saying much. I helped a woman in front of me with her groceries since she had a big stroller, a baby and a dog to deal with, and she was very grateful. An older woman with two items asked if she could cut in front of me, and I was happy to help her get in and out. I saw other elderly people in the store and wished I could shop for each one of them and make them wait outside. I’m shocked that the cashiers aren’t even wearing gloves. I neurotically wipe down every item from the store with antibacterial wipes before putting the groceries away, and count for at least 20 seconds while washing my hands.
My company decides to allow all employees to start working from home effective the next day, since the CDC orders that everyone begin ‘social distancing’, to ban gatherings of 50 or more people and to stay home as much as possible, self-isolating with your family or significant other. Things are evolving quickly. The stock market is in freefall. Everything is getting canceled. Disney World closes. Schools start closing in select states.
March 13, 2020: Trump declares a ‘national emergency’ to free up money and resources. The House proposes a Coronavirus relief bill, including paid emergency leave and free testing for COVID-19. Only problem is, there are no tests, thanks to our ill-prepared federal government response. Red tape at the FDA held things up for weeks, losing precious time to be able to test people even though doctors in Seattle had raised the red flag about community spread of the virus back in January. They expect cases to increase dramatically across the U.S. causing massive and extended disruption to our way of life. I call my brother for his 50th birthday, walking down the streets of my neighborhood in Brooklyn running errands, but life was still very much going on as normal. People were out and about everywhere, going in and out of stores. No one was wearing masks or gloves, not even the store workers. It was as if a global pandemic that we had now been severely warned about wasn’t happening.
March 14, 2020: I started to get really worried about my dad. This virus is detrimentally impacting the elderly, especially those with underlying health conditions like he has. Asymptomatic carriers were popping up everywhere. Kids seem to be pretty unaffected by it, but could be carriers with minimal to no symptoms. I had a feeling if I didn’t go home that day to see him, my sister and my nieces, I may not have the chance to do so again for a long time. I was fearful though since I had been out and about in Brooklyn, so I maintained the recommended 6-feet of distance and only gave him elbow bumps. We ate dinner together and I realized how much of a risk it was to have him sitting at the table, right next to my nieces who had been in school until the day before. We were all potentially putting my dad at risk just by being in the same room and that thought scared the hell out of me. The U.S. is up to 2,800 cases and 58 deaths.
March 15, 2020: Governor Cuomo holds a press conference pleading for Trump to send the Army to NYC to start building makeshift hospitals, since the expectation was the number of cases was about to start exploding as testing started to become available, and that we could quickly run out of ICU beds and ventilators. What a terrifying thought. We’re the United States of America who touts having the best healthcare system in the world. Three days in to the declaration of a global pandemic, our system was already nearing collapse and the war had only just begun here.
I had to have the tough convo that Dad needed to self-isolate in his apartment and that he could only see my sister and nieces outside with at least 6-feet of distance. They couldn’t go in his apartment and he can’t go in their house. It is so much better to be safe as the last thing you want to do is go to a doctor or hospital at a time like this. I pray to my mom to watch over us and the harsh reality sets in that I have no idea when I might see my family again. NY finally decides to close schools so my sister is officially working from home with the girls, which gave me some relief, in addition to all bars, restaurants (except for take-out or delivery), gyms, theaters, pretty much wherever people can gather. My sister also has a compromised immune system and needs to be extra careful. I watch the news most of the day (BAD idea) and then went into a full-on panic attack when I started with a runny nose later in the afternoon. My asthma was so bad I had to use my inhaler way more than I like to. Was this the early onset of symptoms? I had just been home the day before, which means I could’ve passed it to my entire family. Then I realize I don’t even own a thermometer. I try to order one on Amazon but they are sold out everywhere and it will take over a week to arrive. Thankfully, my boyfriend calmed me down that evening and assured me I didn’t feel like I had a fever. He told me I had to unplug and stop worrying so much, and he was right. I load up on meds and the runny nose goes away. I realize it must be allergies and am so relieved. Even though the whole world seems to be grinding to a halt from an invisible virus that has no cure, we need to stay calm and recognize we are in this for awhile, and just take it day-by-day.
March 16, 2020: The first official week that my company and so many across America start working from home. Since I’m an expert at working remotely through my current job in which I work a week at home and then spend the next week at my office in Delaware, I spoke over video conference to the Marketing department about my pro tips to stay focused and motivated. HR winds up sharing across our entire company, and I hope everyone finds them useful and not annoying. Our CEO and CMO do a great job rallying the troops, reassuring us that we would get through this crazy time together. I’m so inspired by my awesome co-workers who immediately start thinking of ways we can help one another and our communities. Millions of people across the country had their lives upended, and it all happened within a matter of days. The Dow fell 3,000 points today, the largest one-day point drop in history. This is concerning for my job and industry in general since we rely on investors at hedge funds and banks. My friends with small businesses are shuttering their doors indefinitely, unsure how many months they can make it like this. Others are struggling to work from home and home school their kids. So many people are out of work, unsure how to pay their bills or feed their families. Unemployment state websites are crashing due to the unprecedented amount of traffic. Unemployment was 3% and could go up to 20%. Hard to understand how quickly things were evolving. I needed a few necessities and lots more alcohol to cope (liquor stores are allowed to stay open, at least for now) so I decided to run out in the afternoon to take care of it and that this could likely be my last trip to the stores for awhile. I snagged the last $60 baby head thermometer from CVS but was appalled by how many people were just seemingly hanging out in there, crowding the aisles and not giving the recommended 6-feet of space. I wore surgical gloves in the store and got some weird looks but better to be safe. The store workers are finally wearing gloves and the pharmacist is wearing a mask, but no one else is. I also needed to get some cash out of the ATM and bought as much alcohol as I could carry. I parked my car knowing I may not be driving it again for a long time (yet alternate side parking was still in effect). As bars and restaurants across NYC were ordered to close beginning at 8 pm, San Francisco and the Bay area are ordered to ‘shelter in place’. This sounds scary but is exactly what is needed in NYC to get people off the streets.
March 17, 2020: I forget that it’s St. Patty’s Day since the parade was cancelled and virtually everything except grocery stores and pharmacies are closed in NY. My aunts remind me via group text and it’s so nice to hear from all of them, since this was a day that my Mom and Nan loved so much. I start checking in with all of my family and friends. Work keeps me busy and focused throughout the day, and I went for a walk that evening with a friend, maintaining our distance while we walked the streets and tried to ensure we were giving everyone else around us the same, especially the elderly. It was once again shocking to see how many people were still out and about carrying on like nothing was happening. Schools are closed across the state yet kids were piling on top of each other at playgrounds and parks, and they surely could not all be related. I decide it’s best to cancel our trip to AZ and LA in mid-April, as it’s not looking like we will be going anywhere anytime soon, and there are rumblings that domestic flights will soon be grounded. Not sure how we are allowing so many people to fly knowing how quickly and easily this is spreading. There is now discussion that the virus may actually be ‘airborne’ in that the droplets can hang in the air for awhile. I am starting to look for the little things in each day that bring me happiness. NYC suspending alternate side parking for the next two weeks. Talking to my dad and hearing he’s feeling good and adjusting to self-isolation. Seeing my boyfriend when he’s not working as one of NY’s Bravest. Talking to friends and family. Leaning on one another for love and support through these truly unprecedented times.
March 18, 2020: Work has become a very welcome distraction. There are so many great initiatives happening across the company and I’m feeling incredibly motivated and inspired. I’m on the phone non-stop, speaking with partners and colleagues, commiserating on our ‘new normal’ of staying home and getting through the days without losing our sanity. I call my sister and nieces on FaceTime and we vow to use that a lot more to stay connected. Every time I see a Trump press conference, my anxiety goes into overdrive. He announces that hospital ships will be sent to NYC Harbor in preparation for what’s to come, and that he’s invoking the Defense Production Act to help develop and deploy more of the resources we so desperately need to fight this virus. Walks have become the thing I look forward to after work. Eating healthy, staying hydrated and exercising daily is what the CDC recommends to build your immune system up. And the 20 vitamins and natural supplements I now take, of course (Emergen-C, Multivitamin, Elderberry, Zinc…the list goes on and on).
I get an Emergency Alert text on my phone that night that scares the hell out of me. What could possibly be happening now?! It was directing all NYC residents to STAY HOME. Please NYC and everywhere else in this country: STAY THE F HOME. This is not a test. This is a real-life emergency. And since we can’t depend on our government for anything these days, we need to take it upon ourselves to practice social distancing every single day until we flatten that curve. It should really be called physical distancing, because there are so many ways you can stay connected socially through the use of technology. The quicker we all adhere to these recommendations and take it day-by-day together, the quicker we can all get through this. My boyfriend and I watch Uncut Gems with Adam Sandler, a much needed distraction and a great movie. Highly recommend.
March 19, 2020: I interviewed for a new role at my company today and am feeling pretty good about it. It was my first time interviewing completely over video conference, and it went off without a hitch. I knew the day was going too well because by the end of the day, the very harsh reality of this new world we live in hit me again like a ton of bricks. All companies are struggling right now, and ours is no exception. We will be forced to make some tough choices in the coming months, but I feel confident they are the right ones and will enable us to weather this storm. We have the best people in charge and I know everyone is doing everything they can to make it work, it’s just such an uncertain time.
Things seem to be changing by the hour. They are saying the U.S. could be in need of 950,000 ventilators and that we would be 800,00 short if so. That’s horrifying. Hospitals and doctors everywhere are complaining they don’t have enough protective equipment to keep doctors and nurses safe, and many that have already been exposed and have symptoms can’t even get a test themselves. Once again, I can’t understand how wholly unprepared we are for this. Oh, that’s right. Trump dismantled the pandemic response team when he got in office. Thanks for killing us, you asshole. How have we not learned anything from prior experiences, through SARS, MERS and even when Coronavirus first started in Wuhan? Feels like this is all part of something bigger, to dismantle the world as we know it and completely upend the way we used to live (how many cases does Russia have by the way)? It’s hard to imagine when things could truly go back to ‘normal’ and if that definition just no longer exists, or if it will be completely redefined. Italy is getting completely ravaged by this virus, and we may only be days away from starting to see and feel those impacts. They keep saying it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better here, so to think that these are the ‘good’ days of this nightmare we could be living for months is a terrifying thought. Italy is up to 41,000 cases and 3,400 deaths, surpassing China. China has now officially contained the virus and are reporting minimal new cases each day. It took a complete lockdown of their country, but they were able to accomplish that in 2.5 months. We have not taken those measures and likely won’t, definitely not to the level that China did. South Korea beat it by aggressive testing, which we also don’t have in place. All our President does is lie and blame others for his incompetence. It’s frustrating and sad. We need to take this upon ourselves and STAY HOME if we have any shot of flattening the curve.
March 20, 2020: After a long and stressful week of work and this new reality, I was long overdue for a walk outside. Since I need to maintain at least 6 feet from everyone, my only companion was a tumbler of wine. It was a nice day, the sun was shining and it felt good to get exercise, but there were still so many people out and about. I’m getting really good at just zig-zagging across the streets every time I see someone coming, but I don’t stay out very long.
March 21, 2020: Today was my 39th birthday, and despite being sheltered in place during a global pandemic, it was actually quite a fun and memorable day. My man was off all weekend so he brought me flowers and made me brunch, the perfect start to the day. Then we went for a daily walk where he ran into the grocery store to get a few things we needed. He works for FDNY, one of NY’s Bravest that is helping to protect and serve during this crazy time, and has been so wonderful in going to the stores and pharmacy for me. After this trip, we are pretty stocked up on food, meds and alcohol and I’m planning to order anything else we may need. The trick is to order ahead of time since most things are out of stock or delayed, but you will eventually get it and be happy you don’t need to go out again.
My girlfriends from college came up with the fabulous idea to set up a video chat happy hour for my birthday, so at 5 pm we all converged via Zoom (a free video chat service that I highly recommend you sign up for if you haven’t already) and brought our significant others, kids and pets. We wore our Sunday’s Best (a.k.a. wigs, beads, tiny hats, hair flair and as many sequins as we could find). We drank, we laughed, we had the best time for almost two hours. It was so wonderful to connect in this way, seeing all of their beautiful faces and hearing all of their voices. I highly recommend this to friends, family and co-workers who want to stay connected and present. Then my sister and adorable nieces FaceTimed me with a cupcake with a candle in it, sang Happy Birthday to me while I made a wish and the girls blew it out. It was adorable. I even got a phone call from my big brother that night, in addition to my aunt and godfather who call me first every year, and sing me Happy Birthday over the phone.
March 22, 2020: After a wonderful birthday, especially given the circumstances, we took Sunday as our day of Rest. We slept late, ate well, and got to bed early so we were ready to face the week ahead with a positive outlook.
March 23, 2020: Monday was a bad day. We had to make some tough decisions at work, which lead to tough conversations. But they were the right ones. The news about the pandemic continues to go from bad to worse. Cases are skyrocketing everywhere, especially in NYC. The official shelter in place order for all non-essential businesses was in effect. Just praying it is effective and we can finally start to flatten the curve.
With everything in bloom now, my allergies are acting up worse than ever and it’s really affecting my asthma, and I can’t help but wonder if this is the early onset of symptoms. I continue on my daily regimen of vitamins, water and taking my temperature three times a day. I envision each of those vitamins, all of the food and water I put in my body as building a shield against the virus.
March 24, 2020: Today is my dad’s 72nd birthday. We call him in the morning and sing him Happy Birthday, which he really likes. He’s already on FaceTime with my aunt and uncle in Delaware, who had also just sang him Happy Birthday. My nieces made him cards, and they even got creative and figured out how they could eat dinner with him, since they have all been self-isolating for the last ten days. My dad’s apartment is attached to their house through the garage, so they set up a folding table in the garage and had my dad open his apartment door and eat from in there so they could see each other and talk to each other. They even FaceTimed when they knocked on his door to show him the surprise. It was really sweet, the smile on Dad’s face said it all and they even topped it off by calling us back to sing Happy Birthday to the cupcake they gave him with a candle in it.
Shortly after that, my dad called me back to tell me my uncle on Long Island had tested positive for COVID-19. He is a 77-year old stubborn Italian man that wouldn’t stop going out. Luckily, my cousin’s husband is a doctor and was able to get him tested, self-isolated at home and is keeping a close eye on the rest of the family.
March 25, 2020: It’s been a stressful week of work, and the unemployment claims haven’t even come out yet. We are expecting them to be upward of 2MM which would be devastating. I’m thankful for group texts with my family and friends, and continue to plan FaceTime and video chats with as many of them as possible. Me and my boyfriend start a 30-Day Yoga Challenge through my favorite YouTube Channel, Yoga by Adriene. This gives us something to look forward to and hold each other accountable for. At a time like this, we need self-care more than ever. A video chat with my girls in the evening ends this day on a calm and positive note.
March 26, 2020: Unemployment claims for the week come out and are 500% higher than the worst record ever set back in 1982, coming in at a staggering 3.3MM, way more than even the worst case scenarios had predicted. This is not good for my industry and so many others already feeling the pain from all of this by losing jobs and income they were counting on. I feel very grateful to still have a job and a great work from home situation, but I continue to ponder how we can pivot from this to do something groundbreaking and help those that need it most.
That night, we get terrible news from my boyfriend’s family. One of his in-laws has passed away from COVID-19. He was only 47 with a wife and two kids. Former NYPD, FDNY and a 9/11 first responder, a true hero and all-around wonderful guy. His family is heartbroken and I can only imagine their pain. My heart feels so incredibly heavy for all of them. This virus just hit so close to people I love. I want everyone to know that this virus is deadly, highly contagious and it does NOT just severely impact old people, and that everyone needs to stay home to stop this from happening. We talk to his friends and a couple of my girls in Delaware on video chat, and it helps to end the night on a positive note.
March 27, 2020: I decide to take the day off from work so I could sleep in, unplug and re-center myself after a very stressful and sad ending to the week. Today is also the anniversary of my Mom passing away seven years ago. This day is always a hard one for me, but given the circumstances, it was even tougher today. I am so incredibly blessed to have a boyfriend that loves and understands me, especially when I’m in pain, and the most amazing friends and family a girl could ever ask for. I received so much love and support today from so many people. From texts to emails to phone calls and social media posts, everyone let me know how much they love me and are there for me. That’s all I needed to get my mind right and my energy back.
I made myself an awesome breakfast sandwich (soft boiled egg sandwiches are my new go-to, only takes 6 minutes to boil), did Pilates and lifted weights to make me feel strong. I started reading the book Sapiens, which has been on my list for awhile now, and completely unplugged from work and the news. It was exactly what I needed, and although it was a beautiful day out, warm and sunny, I stayed home as we should all be doing. I sat in my zen den with the windows open and the sun shining in. I talked to my Dad and his calm demeanor reminds me again that we will get through this, one day at a time. Deep breaths. Positive thoughts. Focus on what is in your control.
March 28, 2020: I’m grateful that my boyfriend is off all weekend so we can relax and unwind after a stressful couple of weeks. We cook, watch movies, drink wine and just enjoy each other’s company. Watching Coming to America was a much needed comic relief break (and I somehow had never seen this movie in its entirety before).
March 29, 2020: Another day of rest, although I did fit in a quick workout in the morning. Even 10 min is better than nothing. We take a short walk over to my apartment to check for packages. I’m so grateful for our weekly Blue Apron delivery. It guarantees three delicious but healthy meals per week that we can cook together, and it only costs $10 per person per meal, which you really can’t beat these days. You can also skip or reschedule any given week. I’m finally learning to cook and truly enjoying it, especially when I get to do it with my man. We cook Ginger Shrimp with Bok Choy, and mix it with some leftovers we had from a previous Blue Apron stir-fry using freekeh instead of rice, and it’s absolutely delicious.
March 30, 2020: Back to work after a long, relaxing weekend. I’m forever grateful for my wonderful co-workers, especially during this time. They are offering me so much support and have been my sounding board when I need them most. My boyfriend and I get back to our 30-Day Yoga challenge. It really does relax, calm and ground us and makes me feel strong. Hopefully we will be in kick ass shape when this is all over. We cook another yummy Blue Apron dinner while I play Frank Sinatra out of my open window. A couple weeks ago, I swear I heard the sound of some Italian opera coming from one of the apartments behind me but haven’t heard it since. I’m hoping to encourage others to start playing their music more, like the scenes you see out of Italy or Spain. Although it’s such a crazy time and the news just continues to go from bad to worse (the U.S. now has the most cases worldwide with more than 160,000 and over 3,000 deaths), but Frank Sinatra always makes me smile and I continue to look for the moments in each day that do. I look over at my boyfriend, whose cooking me dinner after a long day of work. I can’t help but smile, sing and dance around the kitchen. For that moment in time, everything was perfect.
April 4, 2020: It turned out to be a pretty good week, all things considered. I was offered a new job at my company, which I feel incredibly grateful for considering how many people have recently lost theirs. All of our family and friends are safe and healthy. Everyday that is the case is a good day in my book.
The pandemic and economic news continues to go from bad to worse with 1.1 million cases globally, over 300,000 cases in the U.S. and 8,100 deaths. New York now has over 113,000 cases and over 3,500 deaths. Hospitals are overwhelmed, equipment is running low but thankfully we are getting a delivery of 1,000 much needed ventilators from China, and Oregon was kind enough to offer up 140 they are not currently using. Unemployment claims doubled week over week to a staggering 6.6 million and could reach 32% (pre-Coronavirus we were around 3%). Yesterday the CDC recommend everyone should wear a mask if they leave their homes to help contain the spread, but to use cloth, bandanna, scarf or a homemade one and to leave the surgical and N95 masks for the healthcare workers since there are severe shortages in PPE for healthcare workers in NYC and other states seeing a surge in cases like Detroit and New Orleans. I am grateful I bought a few cotton masks from Amazon before things got crazy. I wear it when I go outside for a walk, the only time I leave my apartment these days, ensuring I always maintain 6-feet from others, even if that means waking in the street. They finally padlocked the playgrounds to keep kids and parents from congregating there a few days ago, but that should’ve been done weeks ago. Yesterday I noticed for the first time that I heard sirens all day and all night, which is very uncommon where I live in Brooklyn.
Another emergency alert was sent out around 5 pm ET in NYC asking for all healthcare workers to report to area hospitals to help. That’s sad and terrifying that we are already in need of so many doctors and nurses. Like the rest of NYC, the sirens I’m hearing are related to the soaring number of severely ill COVID-19 patients needing to be transported by ambulance. Last night, my boyfriend and I participated in the 7 pm clapping and cheering out my window for the healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers putting their lives at risk to help others. They are the true heroes, not our government and all the lies they have been spewing to the American people. We should never, ever forget the sacrifices all of those brave men and women are making. They are putting their lives and their families at risk to try and protect us all in this horrible war they are fighting against an invisible, highly contagious and deadly enemy.
April 12, 2020: Today was Easter and it was the first one I had ever spent by myself. I made the best of it by spending the day cooking and relaxing, talking to friends and family. I ate dinner with my sister, brother-in-law, nieces and Dad via Zoom so I didn’t have to eat alone, which was really nice and made me grateful to have a chance to see them all and hang out over dinner like we normally would. I’m so grateful my dad lives right next door. They take such good care of him and the girls keep him young and smiling. Over the last month we have all had to make sacrifices for the health and safety of ourselves, our families and those most vulnerable to this virus. But when we look back on all of this one day it will be important to reflect on how we remained positive and focused on finding happiness in each day.
Although the U.S. is up to a staggering 560,000 cases and over 22,000 deaths, 9,000 of which are from New York, it appears that we are finally starting to flatten the curve. Hospitalizations and the need for ICU beds continues to decrease here. but it’s hard to celebrate when so many people have lost their lives to this. Social distancing is working and I do take comfort in seeing more people in masks around here (mostly cloth, bandannas or scarves). But we can’t take our foot off the gas. Until we have widespread virus and antibody testing we can’t just go back to the way things were. Until we have a vaccine, all of those high-risk groups will remain high-risk. The idea of a “new normal” is a very real thought we should all consider. How we use this time to reflect and plan for life getting back to some type of normalcy will be incredibly important. Stay focused on what you can control. Be grateful for what you have, especially your health and happiness. Tell your friends and family you love them. And always remember that this too shall pass. Keep Calm and Blog On.
April 19, 2020: The past week actually went very quick. My new job is keeping me very busy and extremely motivated, and I’m so grateful for that. I wake up each day ready to tackle my To Do list and learning as much as I can. I spend the nights cooking with my boyfriend when he’s not working, and have been exercising 5 days a week. Over the weekend he cooked up a feast for us – his famous sausage and broccoli rabe on Friday night followed by some amazing short ribs with carrots and potatoes on Saturday night. On Sunday we ordered from a different local restaurant called The Burrito Spot. In my opinion, they make the best tacos in Brooklyn. Their hard shells and nacho chips are all homemade and they delivered within a half hour.
We watched the Global Citizen One concert on Saturday night, which was organized by Lady Gaga and included artists from around the world. Instead of asking for money from the people watching, they simply asked that everyone take the pledge online to stay at home. The celebrities all banned together and raised a whopping $128 million at a time when the U.S. is trying to halt funding to the W.H.O. which could actually hurt us later if another country comes up within a vaccine first and leaves little reason give the U.S. any sort of priority in getting large quantities produced. The music was great in the beginning. From Stevie Wonder singing the late Bill Withers’ (who the world lost a few weeks ago to COVID-19) ‘Lean On Me’ to Elton John singing ‘I’m Still Standing’ from a piano in his backyard; a sweet duet with Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello singing ‘What A Wonderful World’ (pumped to see them isolating together); Jimmy Fallon & The Roots with ‘The Safety Dance’ as videos of health care workers in masks and gloves dancing played along, and The Roots all washed their hands; Lizzo belting out a beautiful rendition of ‘A Change is Gonna Come’; and The Rolling Stones getting back together to sing ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Wanted’. Lately you are seeing more and more celebrities step up to the plate to donate millions and millions of dollars of their own money directly to their city or state’s hospitals to purchase PPE for them or feed hungry families in need. While it’s a kind gesture, it’s devastating that our own government can’t provide these basic things to those on the frontlines and most vulnerable to hunger.
April 24, 2020: Week 6 of Quarantine is in the books. This past week was a long, strange one. While NYC and most other states remain on pause until at least May 15, other states like Georgia are starting to re-open some businesses today (gyms, hair salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys). Others like SC and CO may soon follow. All of the doctors, scientists and health experts are warning against it, saying we must be vigilant as a 2nd wave of this virus is inevitable and our response now determines how bad that wave may be. Trump’s idiotic daily comments suggesting Coronavirus will be gone in the fall, that heat and warm weather will kill it and the most ridiculous of the week – injecting disinfectant in people since it works so well to kill the virus on surfaces make me want to bash my head into the wall! You can’t make this stuff up. Lysol immediately came out advising against EVER injecting disinfectant in a human body. That’s just a common fact that most children even know. Trump is becoming more unhinged with each passing day. It’s the sad reality Americans are faced with everyday. In addition to our worlds being turned upside down from the pandemic, we have a completely incompetent, narcissistic and borderline psychopath of a President. He can seemingly say whatever he wants, regardless of how untrue or antagonistic (I just read he’s taunting Iran again saying we are going to blow their ships out of the water, yet he talks so highly of Kim Jong-Un). It’s disgusting that this man is our President, especially at a time like this. Dr. Fauci is finally speaking out against Trump and stating the facts based on science – he has no doubt Coronavirus WILL be here in the fall and that a 2nd wave could be worse than the first (see the Spanish Flu). Last weekend he was tweeting at states like VA and MN with Democratic governors to liberate and rise up against the state’s stay-at-home orders, when there were protests already erupting in states across the country violating his own federal guidelines. How is that not treason for attempting to incite fear and violence during a global pandemic?!
Nearly 500 people per day are still dying just in NYC alone. I live it everyday, watching the local news and seeing the stories of heartbroken families losing parents, grandparents, moms and dads, siblings and friends. The doctors, nurses and first responders are mentally and physically exhausted, many getting sick themselves and dealing with long lasting mental health issues from all the death they have seen in the last 6 weeks alone. While the daily death numbers have come down along with hospitalizations and ICU intubations, the numbers are still high and doctors and nurses all across NYC still say it’s a war zone with the amount of death and serious illness they see. We must remain vigilant for all of these brave frontline workers and continue to stay at home. This is proving to be an exercise in mental and physical toughness for all of us. Stay strong, stay focused on what you can control and take time out of each day to unplug and unwind. We will get through this.
May 20, 2020: It’s so hard to believe that Memorial Day weekend is upon us. The month of March and early April felt like it lasted 6 months. All of a sudden I blinked and it’s almost the end of May and it stays light out until almost 8:30. Work has been such a welcome distraction through all of this and I am grateful everyday to not only have a job, but one that excites and challenges me everyday. A lot has changed in the past month and there finally seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, at least for now. Pretty much every state including NY has started to ease stay at home orders and are allowing certain businesses to start opening up, but nothing will be “normal” for the foreseeable future or maybe ever again. NYC is still shut down but all of our numbers are way down and staying that way. In typical NY fashion, New Yorkers did what needed to be done to flatten the curve and save lives. I worry about a second wave emerging if we don’t stay diligent and continue practicing social distancing, but I also understand that people need to get back to work and some sense of normalcy. It’s sad that we are one of the only countries that didn’t implement the same restrictions countrywide as the re-opening is causing division and confusion as governors are told to figure it out themselves, much like they had to do throughout this entire crisis. The government stimulus has been a total mess, with the largest corporations taking advantage of hundreds of millions of dollars in small business loans that should have been given directly to the actual small businesses that needed it most, the lifeblood of our country left in the dust by our federal government. State unemployment websites have been so overwhelmed that many still have not received their unemployment or government stimulus checks, yet the government will be calling on all of us to get back to spending to restart the economy knowing mostly everyone in America is already riddled with debt. This pandemic exposed so many cracks in the very foundation of America – the income inequality crisis that was already a growing problem for years, the disappearing middle class with so many now poor as a result of this with no way out, and the disgustingly rich get richer off of all of it. Trump’s cronies with high power positions in his admin are making millions off of this pandemic through insider trading and other corrupt practices that seemingly go unchecked. Jeff Bezos is about to become a trillionaire (in my Dr. Evil voice) yet Amazon workers across the country had to strike because they weren’t getting the PPE and safety measures they deserved as essential workers. As much as I love the convenience of Amazon I am really trying not to use them and instead spend by money at local and small businesses to help Americans who truly need and deserve it. I encourage you to read this Buzzfeed article to educate yourself on the long lasting impacts this pandemic will continue to have above and beyond public health if we all don’t wake up and change our ways.
There are almost 5 MILLION cases worldwide and 327,000 deaths. 93,000 of those deaths are in the U.S. and almost 23,000 in NY alone, with 16,000 (70% of the state’s total) across the five boroughs of NYC. Just stop and think about that for a minute. Almost 100,000 Americans have died from this virus! We cannot be desensitized to that chilling fact, despite the rush everyone is in to re-open the economy. We have already lost 5X the New Yorkers that were lost on 9/11 and it’s still too early to know what the long-term complications may be from this virus. I know two New Yorkers that passed away from COVID-19 and I have very close friends and family that tested positive and are currently fighting the virus. I pray for all of them everyday and I give thanks and gratitude for each day that passes that me, my boyfriend, our families and friends continue to stay healthy. We are all so blessed, having our health and our jobs.
Three weeks ago I went to CityMD for my FDA approved antibody test and I was very disappointed to find out a couple of days later I was negative for the antibodies (just today Emory University released a study that seems to prove having the antibodies does in fact give you immunity, they are just unsure for how long). But my disappointment turned to gratitude since it also proved that everything I have been doing has worked and prevented me from getting this virus while living in a city that was impacted greater than most countries have been. But I would not have wanted to be anywhere else and I’m so glad I stayed in Brooklyn. I have spoken with quite a few NYC residents who fled the city in March, escaping to their 2nd homes or renting a place out on Long Island, upstate or even going to other states to ride it out. Staying in Brooklyn enabled me to see my boyfriend who so bravely worked as FDNY through the scariest parts of this pandemic, allowing us to be there and support one another through it all. I clapped and cheered at 7 pm with my fellow neighbors to thank all of the courageous healthcare and essential workers across this amazing city of ours. I took my social distancing responsibility very seriously and did not go anywhere besides short walks or bike rides in my neighborhood for 9 whole weeks and I have only been in one store since. I finally drove to Long Island last weekend to see my family in the backyard after not seeing them for over two months, the longest I have ever gone without seeing them in my life. I have been wearing my cloth mask everywhere I go and will continue to do so until there is a vaccine. I don’t plan on changing much of my quarantine routine until then either. We canceled our trip to AZ and Cali in April and I probably won’t be flying anywhere for awhile, but hopefully we can do a road trip in the fall. If not, that’s ok too if it means staying safe and healthy. I don’t plan on going back to the office anytime soon since I can do my job just fine from home, and I don’t foresee going inside a restaurant or bar again for awhile. Everyone needs to figure out how best to approach the re-opening of our country but I hope people realize how important it is to stay diligent with social distancing whenever possible, wearing a mask anytime you leave your house and the neurotic hygiene routines. As annoying or inconvenient you feel these things can be, they have proven to help stop the spread and save lives. Don’t forget that at the end of the day, hundreds of thousands of lives have already been lost to this pandemic and those numbers will continue to climb, especially when flu season starts up again or the inevitable second wave hits. But how many more lives are lost is all up to us and the daily choices we make. Be kind, be aware, be human and be incredibly grateful for every day you and your family stay healthy and safe. I know I am.
