COVID Time Capsule: Community Response

I was so impressed to read about my Library’s request for stories regarding the Coronavirus Era. It is one of those unique innovations that so often come to us as a result of the Librarian’s interest in the community and how its members are affected by current situations. Librarians are always on the alert for new ways to supply information to the community residents and such, I believe, was the intent of Natalie Korsavidis, Head of Local History at the Farmingdale Public Library.  I am pleased to be a part of her newly-created time capsule.

Many years ago I started my career as a Children’s Librarian at Farmingdale Public Library. My duties took me to both the Main Library and the Branch Library, as well as Saturdays on the Bookmobile. That was such a long time ago – long before we obtained our lovely, new (in my mind, still “new”), modern Library. I loved every aspect of my job, and I especially looked forward to my Saturdays on the Bookmobile. That was such a special, enjoyable way to serve the public! Just recently one of my children shared with me a Facebook post about the Bookmobile. I didn’t think anyone would remember it after all these years, but there it was. That led another child to reminisce about how much she had enjoyed the Summer Reading Program and that triggered her memory of winning a special prize for reading the most books one summer. I ended my career as Head of Children’s Services at Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library and for a long time I have enjoyed my “Retirement Years”. And now … I am 88 years old!

My five children (and two of my grandchildren) were among the relatively few African-American members of the student body. They participated fully in the opportunities provided by our schools and made contributions to their various schools in the areas of music, art, drama, sports, and academics. One qualified for acceptance in the experimental program for Farmingdale’s Gifted Children, the “More Able Learners Program” (MAL) introduced by then-Principal of East Memorial Elementary School, Mr. Stan Saltzman. Unique, advanced curriculum studies and appropriate opportunities were available to the children in this program and the school officials learned from these children as they observed their progress from third grade to the end of Jr. High School. My granddaughter was the first Black Drum Major in the history of Farmingdale High School, serving for three years and directing the steps of the 300-piece Farmingdale High School Marching Band as they performed in various venues. My grandson was a member of the football team that was declared Champions of Nassau County. Pleasant and valuable experiences in our public school system prepared all of them for numerous adventures in further education and they are now raising their families and functioning as good citizens in their various communities. 

I have lived in the same house for 65 years. With 5 children growing up here, there was always at least one Best Friend around, so that's 10 right there. Their dad built a basketball court in the backyard (you could not just buy a basketball set-up at that time), so when the rest of neighborhood kids (and others from ... wherever) came, we always had a yard full / house full. Lots of milk and cookies, and tuna sandwiches, were associated with this place! But we were glad about that because at least we always knew where our own children were.

I was eager for you to “meet” my children because the stories that I want to share with you about COVID-19 are actually letters that I sent to my children to assure them that I am surviving this strange period of my life in satisfactory fashion. I have not yet felt the need to use any of the social media platforms. For me, e-mail works just fine. I am so pleased that I can write it all, click “Send” and know that my message will reach all of my children in their scattered homes – Ohio, Michigan, Queens, Upstate New York. My oldest child lives with her husband and two adult Dalers on the street just behind me. There is a gate in the fence that defines our properties and it is a quick, easy trip from one back door to the other. That perfect arrangement makes me feel well cared for, protected, and safe. At my advanced age, I can say that is a VERY good situation for me at this time!

Here are the stories:
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I … ESCAPED!
March 26, 2020 – During the Coronavirus Era
This was a perfectly beautiful day weather-wise! And I was glad because it was the day I'd planned to "make a break for it". I’m not used to counting the number of days that I have been confined to my home, so I’m not sure any more, but I think I had been in for about 6 days. In my house for that long, with no trip longer than a walk down the driveway to my mailbox  impresses upon me that we are living in a “whole new world”!  I learned at a very young age to follow directions, so I have been trying hard to follow the current rules for avoiding this horrible, fast-moving virus. That means following the self-quarantine  / stay-at-home / remain isolated rules dictated by our government and health officials. 
I was at the grocery store at 6:15 A.M. to take advantage of the kind and thoughtful hours set aside by my Stop ‘N Shop for the gray-haired population. There were cars in only one area of the huge parking lot and only that one door was open. This necessitated my using an entrance different from the one I usually use, so that made me feel that I was shopping backwards. It was not very efficient until I decided to re-do my route and “get it right”. I had taken the time to wipe down my shopping cart with wipes that I carry in a Ziploc bag in my purse these days. I also have gloves in a Ziploc bag in my car. This is all new to me, but necessities nowadays. There were not many people inside so I had no trouble with the 6-foot social-distancing rule. I wore a mask that was given to me by a friend (just ONE mask is all I have) and it fogged up my glasses when I breathed. Besides that, my breath was too warm under that mask, but I stuck with it because there is so much to learn about this "whole new world". I was there for an hour and a half, just taking my time and trying to find everything I needed. There were some empty shelves, but what I needed I found, for the most part. There were a few 6-roll packs of toilet tissue, truly a surprise since there has been a notable scarcity of this item in recent days, so I picked up one of those - just following the path the hoarders have set for me. They must have re-stocked the shelves while I was in another part of the store because at the cash register I saw a man with a huge bundle - must have been something like 16-20 rolls. Good sign that the world has not yet been depleted of toilet tissue. It made my heart sing to see that, even though I did not take advantage of this treasure.

After the grocery store I went home; it was still so early that I could not go to any of my other intended destinations. I took some of the groceries into the house. I don’t know why it seemed that everything I bought was SO heavy. I put those groceries away and did a few things around the house. All stores are closed now, thanks to the rules demanded by the virus, but some eating places have made drive-in facilities available. I decided that McDonald’s Drive-In would be open that early and I needed a Sausage Biscuit, Hash Browns, and Coffee – something different from my breakfast fare of the last 6 days.  After returning from that trip, taking in some more groceries, and consuming breakfast, I headed to Walgreen's which also had only a few people in it. A visit to  the Post Office was really necessary because I had only one stamp left and I can't remember the last time that happened, if ever - definitely not a good feeling for me. When I finished that trip I decided that was enough “freedom” for now.  I returned home and instantly remembered one more thing that needed to be taken care of at the bank. So I took in a few more groceries, wheeled around, and headed for the bank. I approached the window of a male clerk that I have often been to before and, face hidden behind mask, said, “Good morning. Recognize me?” He smiled and said, “Well, I saw the hair and thought it looked familiar.” Yeah, I guess there are not too many ladies with mixed gray hair these days – not in Farmingdale; not anywhere – but here I am and he, apparently, has memorized my hair. Now, it was definitely time to return to my solitary life inside my home to check on the latest negative news about how the Coronavirus is taking over the WORLD!

It was absolutely lovely to be OUT and ABOUT! I won’t do this again any time soon, but I must remember that my car is pleading to be started and moved a bit, so I’m thinking of places I can go and still observe “social-distancing”. (It seems we have new jargon to learn, in association with this “whole new world”). I’m thinking I’ll just drive down to the water, some place pretty and quiet, and breathe in some ocean air. That should be nice. Maybe I’ll visit a local park and see how that looks for getting out of my car and participating in some safe-distance walking and perhaps smiling and waving if I see another PERSON.

It’s taken me a while to get this written so at this point I’ve been inside my happy home for 3 more days with only trips down the driveway to pick up my mail. I don’t seem to have too much of a problem with this. I sleep late (because I don’t necessarily sleep well through the night), so when I get downstairs about 10:00-11:00 the day is half over. I check my e-mail and answer everything, In addition to the chores demanded by daily living in a house (loading the dishwasher and turning it on maybe once a week, laundry once a week, etc.) I enjoy doing various kinds of puzzles. On computer I LOVE jigidi.com for jigsaw puzzles. That’s a happy experience for me. There is also TheJigsawPuzzles.com which serves a great purpose for me. And my newspaper has recently added a nice variety of puzzles that I like to spend time with daily, and there are additional ones on Saturday. Yes, I haven’t modernized enough yet to let my subscription to Newsday go. Maybe some day; maybe soon, but not yet. I have inspirational readings at my disposal and I’m finding good things to read about in Newsday that are spirit-lifting and comforting during this time. And my Nook! Still the best gift EVER! My son-in-law gave me this e-reader several years ago and it’s been my constant companion ever since. I certainly had to do a turn-around in order to get used to reading books on it and not holding that book in my hand, turning the pages, etc. But I have learned that it’s my best friend, especially at times like this. I have my choice of books on it to read and I have a supply of games on it that I can play even while watching TV. I do miss my monthly meeting of The Breakfast Ladies. We once had a group of about 8 but over time it has been reduced to 3 by death, illnesses, etc. that keep our friends housebound. We 3 are the blessed 3 of that group now, so I really do miss being with them. But that’s why Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, just so we can hear each other’s voices once in a while. We must have checked out every diner and suitable-for-breakfast restaurant in the immediate area. We are only hoping that at least some of our favorites will again be available to us – some day. Each day at home is pretty much the same for me, but I am trying to do at least one thing each day that is different from its yesterday. A little variety helps.

I watch lots of TV right now because I want to hear the updates from NY Governor Cuomo who seems to have the ability to impart a degree of wisdom and comfort to his confused and frightened people. And later in the day I watch the national update because I feel that I really do need to hear what Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx have to say. They are the knowledgeable and sensible health experts who impart to us all that we need to think about! What I know about this pandemic is that the virus involved is so new that it is a mystery even to the health authorities. My decision is that if they are learning day by day then it becomes incumbent upon me to educate myself and learn along with them. That is my intention now, as I listen day by day. It seems that once we have learned a couple of facts they can change by the next day and we have to un-learn and re-learn. This is certainly a totally different, new situation to deal with, so we must learn how to manage it. Earlier on, I watched briefings from the NJ Governor, but it got to be too much so now I skip him, in favor of our Suffolk County Executive Belone. He has been giving updates that I need to hear because that area is mine. I need to know what’s going on close to me. And then, I have moments such as this where I need to write some of my thoughts and share them with you. I call a few people. And now, I have become oh, so modern as I can report that I have had my first teleconference, and my second, and my third – all church related. I am still smiling as I come to grips with the fact that I can “go to church” without leaving my home. Now, having been a church-going person since I was in Sunday School at 3 years old, this is truly an incredible situation for me!

On Sundays my family members usually take me to lunch at Michelle’s 110 Diner (our favorite place to eat, which, of course, is now closed) after church. There we have a chance to catch up on the week’s occurrences since we likely have not seen each other, but have kept in touch via telephone, text messages, e-mails, etc. Now, after “ZOOM Church” it seems that we have developed something new. My granddaughter organizes a Deli Treat for us. She takes the orders via text and picks up the order. She delivers mine to my front door and I get to see a PERSON - - - a real PERSON! I don’t get to hug and kiss her, but I use my imagination for that. I have years of such memories to draw upon. Today she had lunch delivered to their home and Joseph walked across his backyard, through the gate in our fence, across my backyard, and delivered my order to my back door. A PERSON! I didn’t get to hug and kiss him either, but there he was! And I got to do a quick visualization of him that I could memorize until next time. This is the most “social contact” I have during a week at home these days.

So just in case anyone is concerned about me, there is no need to be. From time to time I marvel at how well I have been prepared for this time in our existence. You know, on March 25th (just a few days ago), we observed the 17th Anniversary of CB’s death. Do you know how LONG that is??? Think of it this way: I have been “alone” for 17 years. That does not mean that I have been isolated for that long because I have been well taken care of during that time. My nearby relatives take excellent care of all that I need, I have other relatives and friends who have always been concerned about me, but I have been “alone”, without all of the everything that CB was to me for the 51 years of our marriage. “Alone” now for 17 years. What more could I have had in the way of preparation for being “alone” at this time of the Coronavirus and all of the negative emotions that it thrusts upon us? In most ways it’s just a continuation of what I’ve been feeling for all those years. So, as I count my blessings, I must be grateful that I don’t feel absolutely devastated by being “alone” as now dictated by the Coronavirus Era. I know very well how to handle this state of existence. “Alone” is my “thing”, as difficult as it is to say that. I am just SO thankful that I have a comfortable home to hunker down in, all the supplies that I need, and when I need more I have options as to how I can get them. The “backyard relatives” are always there – I KNOW that! – and I’ve had offers from younger friends that if I need ANYTHING, just let them know. What more can I ask?

I certainly don’t eat much. My granddaughter says I should eat more now and I know there is great emphasis on concentrating on a good diet. Wellllll, I have not eaten “well” (by the opinions of others) for many years. It just doesn’t suit my situation. Basically, I’d rather cook for my original family of 7 than to cook for 1 (me!). But that’s another story. By getting up late, I really don’t need a lot to eat, so I do the best I can with that, but if I did a study of my food intake, it would not look good to anyone but me. Still, I have enough available and it’s my fault if it is not as well used as it should be. Because of her expressed interest in her grandmother’s health I’m going to try to do better. For instance, on this last trip to the grocery store I brought back plenty of fresh veggies for salad-makings, fruit (the bananas are already reaching a beyond-ripening point, which is always a problem for me), and now all I have to do is prepare them. I have to be in the mood for that, but I’ll try harder.

I should close by sharing one last happy experience. Yesterday my grandson called and said his mother wanted me to come to the gate in our fence. That usually means she has something to hand me, so I quickly donned my sweater (the weather was lovely and warm) and hurried out to the gate. As I approached the gate I saw such a beautiful sight. my granddaughter was far over there in their backyard wearing a bright, light green shirt and black pants; my grandson was much closer to the gate wearing a black outfit with a wordy shirt and shorts, and their mother was completing the triangle standing close to the back steps of their house wearing a pink jacket. Such pretty, lively colors in that backyard! Their dad was in the house at the time so he missed this, but he could not possibly have seen this from my point of view anyhow. The kids were playing a version of Volleyball, without a net. I don’t know how this sounds to you; don’t know if I’ve been able to paint this picture sufficiently, but to me this was the most beautiful sight! Three of My Folks standing on the bright green grass, livening up my entire world with their smiles and laughter and happy faces. I was SO glad they thought to include me. I stayed for a few minutes and returned inside my House of Hibernation knowing that I had to at least TRY to share this moment with others whom I love. I hope you can get the picture sufficiently to understand how comforting and gratifying it was to me.

Did I cover it all? Any questions?
I think of each of you often and whenever I do, that’s a little prayer coming your way asking that you will be safe and happy during this Era.
Much love to each of you,
Mom / Mom-Mom 

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CORONAVIRUS ERA – LEARNING THE JARGON
“RIDE-BY”
Not “Drive-By” - - - that is a term from another era and it was not a good thing. It had to do with bad guys driving by a place and shooting it up! No, this new term is quite different and it’s all about distributing love and joy and good wishes during this time when everyone is trying to follow the new rules of “Stay Home; Stay Safe”, “Self-Quarantine”, “Isolation”, etc. This is the basic weapon that people have adopted to fight this dreaded virus that has literally taken over the world. It has demanded that people find new ways of celebrating or observing an “occasion”. I have seen some of these experiences on TV, but it’s altogether different when something like this comes to your own community or even moreso when it comes down your own street. Here are three examples:

My local daughter’s birthday was April 23rd. Normally we would have had her choose the place where she would like to have dinner and we would all pile into the car and have a Family Birthday Dinner for her, complete with gifts and lots of laughter. Not this year! But her family was not to be outdone. My grandchildren their friends surprised her with her own “Ride-By” Parade. One car was decorated with pink and green, all AKA’d up to acknowledge her membership in her treasured Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. And there was a sign that said, “Happy Birthday Mama Marve”, which is what his friends have called her since high school days when she was so willing to transport them to and from sports practices, activities, and events. There were 8 other cars with blaring horns that made the trip through our neighborhood and down their street, displaying the signs and decorations. Then they presented her with a tray of beautiful (and delicious) cupcakes. This was the new method of celebrating a Mama’s birthday! 

Teachers from Saltzman East Memorial Elementary School gathered in a parking lot in Massapequa Park (just a few miles away) and then made their way through each neighborhood where their students live. Since all schools have been closed for a month or so, they wanted to show their students how much they miss them. The cars were decorated with signs saying “SEM” and utilizing the Farmingdale colors, green and white. Some signs had a teacher’s name on it. I heard the horns a distance away and knew there was something with happiness on its way to my area. I stood just inside my front door and as the cars began to pass by and make their turn at the corner I opened the door in an effort to see more closely what some of the signs were saying. The drivers then began to wave to me – ME – I’m not a student, but it felt so good to be recognized, smiled at, waved at. I spent several minutes smiling and waving back at those teachers from the school that had served my children and grandchildren so well. None of these current teachers had taught my children or grandchildren, but there they were doing what they could and what is now accepted as the way to show their love for their students. There were a LOT of cars in that Ride-By Parade, at least 20, and they made a lot of happy, exciting noise as they drove through the neighborhood a couple of times.

A “neighborhood boy”, grew up on the same street as my grandson. They attended elementary school and high school together and have remained good friends all these years. Recently, his wife and unborn son were taken from us by this horrid Coronavirus, leaving him with a young daughter to raise. This was such stunning news for us, as his former neighbors. Due to the virus there are no wakes or funerals or even gathering at a home to console the family members. “Social distancing” requires staying 6 feet from the next person and attending no large gatherings. Consequently, there have not been any funerals for the past few weeks. We can assume that when this is all over perhaps there will be Memorial Services for the people who have fallen victims of the virus. After a few days I was wondering what anyone could do to help him through this. My grandson gave me the answer. 

On a Sunday afternoon, 8 or 9 cars drove to his home in a town maybe a 20-minute drive from Farmingdale. I wondered how they would stage this. Blaring horns? No, these friends of his were very careful to present themselves in an appropriate manner. They simply drove to his house, parked along the curb, got out and held up their carefully- and lovingly-made signs to wish him well and lend comfort to him and his family. My grandson and a friend were the only ones who ventured to the porch of the home, wearing the required masks, where they were welcomed by him, with his little daughter riding up on her dad’s shoulders, and his mother-in-law. They presented gifts from the group and flowers for the mother-in-law, and my grandson held a sign that said, “Daler Strong”, which is the hue and cry of anyone who has been a Farmingdale student or athlete and there was a sign said, “We love you.” After viewing the attempts by these friends to strengthen and encourage their childhood buddy, the mother-in-law said, referring to his little daughter, “Now I see why you want to raise her in Farmingdale.” My grandson reports that they were all made very happy by this lovely demonstration of friendship and concern and were quite appreciative of everyone’s prayers and well wishes

. 
We need to remember that there is always an opportunity to cause some good to come out of every bad situation! In the case of this unheard of onslaught by an invisible enemy, people have discovered a new and different way to celebrate / observe important life events. They continue to understand the necessity of distributing love which is so needed at this time. I expect that “Ride-By” will be around for a long time and will eventually find its way into the dictionary.
Love,
Mom / Mom-Mom

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A “NEW” EXPERIENCE: VISITING MY LOCAL GROCERY STORE
May 22, 2020 – The Coronavirus Year
Let me tell you about my latest "new experience". I missed the Senior Hours, 6:00-7:30 A.M., but did get to my local Stop ‘N Shop early. It was not at all crowded, so that was a good start. I paid close attention to all the "new" things, since I have not been there since March. I found a dispenser for disinfectant wipes right at the door, so that as soon as I stepped inside and selected a shopping cart I could wipe it down.  The carts were rather tangled in one area and a man who saw I was having trouble offered me one that he had extracted from the bunch. He made me feel quite comfortable - kindness is still around. Inside I found that the aisles are marked for one-way traveling, but I found that rather easy - only made a mistake once. I’d heard all kinds of stories from all over the country about how rude people can be in the stores these days, refusing to wear masks, causing disturbances for tiny reasons, etc. But today, everyone I saw was wearing a mask. People were thoughtful. I moved my cart for them if I was blocking their path; they moved theirs for me. I could even detect a Farmingdale smile under a mask. That meant the world to me! 
I was able to find most of what I wanted and I was only in there a bit over 1/2 hour. Some aisles did show lots of bare shelf space. In the canned goods area I could not find creamed corn and certain kinds of beans. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the shelves for toilet tissue and paper towels were quite full. They were rationed so that a shopper could purchase one of each per household. There were different bundle sizes so I picked up one each of the largest available bundles because I was running low and I have two bathrooms in my large house – remember, this is the house where we raised FIVE children! My paper supply was not out, but low since I had never hoarded any of these products. I don’t wish to succumb to that type of behavior. 

As I approached the check-out counter there were plenty of marked socially-distanced areas so that we could stand in line with 6 feet of space between each customer, but they were unnecessary for this trip as I was the only one in line at that moment. Each clerk is now protected by a Plexiglas barrier and each wears a face shield. I had not seen these things before and it felt strange not to be able to greet and converse with the clerk who was serving me and exchange a grin or two. I happily gave the clerk my $100 + (yes, the prices are up a bit) and left the store. I got everything into the trunk of my car and tried not to think about how I'd get it all into the house when I arrived back home. On the way home I noticed that the price of gas at my station is $1.89. The gas in my car is still from the $2.35 variety. Since I have driven such a little bit recently I have ¾ of a tank left, so that I can’t take advantage of this new, low price. 

This was a very revealing trip for me. Personally, I needed to get "out and about" for a few minutes. I found, first of all, what it's like to be a "pedestrian" again. I haven't had that title for a couple of months and I needed to experience that. I discovered that I needed to be more alert about cars - needed to pay more attention to what they were doing, such as backing out of a space. It's rather important NOT to get yourself run over. You have to watch what the driver is up to, especially if that driver is not watching you, the pedestrian. And after walking for a while I KNEW that I needed more of that. I'm now preparing for the soreness that I believe is on its way to annoy certain of my joints for the next few days.
There are days when I feel that - yeah, fine - I can spend the rest of my life living this way, but then there are days when I just have a NEED to get out and drive down a street and see houses that I haven't seen for a while, cars parked in driveways and along the road because there are so many jobless people at home these days, what repairs are being made on houses in the neighborhood; what it feels like to stop for a traffic light and be alert as to when to move forward again, or how to make a left turn. On days like that I don't believe I'm ready to just wilt away through my remaining days, staying at home and trying to create something exciting enough to fill a day in a different way from how I filled it the day before. I may as well accept that some days I need just a little more than that. 

I’ve had the experience of ordering groceries online and that worked fine before the virus caught up with us. Now, however, the delivery date for such services is maybe two weeks away. Not a good thing. I have a new recipe that I wanted to try. It’s a pasta dish with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. They were on my shopping list. So, two days ago as I thought about placing an online grocery order, I learned that I simply was not going to feel comfortable ordering cherry tomatoes and fresh basil online. No, that demanded a personal trip to the grocery store – with the all-important mask and an alert mind as I became a pedestrian again. Despite the fact that I have been grocery shopping for many, many, many years I have recently learned that I need a very clear mind to get through this "experience" that can pretty much be labeled these days as "new".

My Mother's Day will be like any other virus-influenced day, I suppose. I do know that our favorite eating place has recently opened for takeout and  one of the family members will go there and pick up my order. I requested that as my Mother's Day gift, so I'm looking forward to that.
Continue to take good care of yourself and each other. Learn the rules and observe them. When the rules become outdated, just un-learn and re-learn and continue your lives as best you can. And, above all, don’t forget to Count Your Blessings!
Love,
Mom / Mom-Mom

 

I am writing in fear that the history of this unprecedented time will be recorded inaccurately as so many past events have been.  I fear that this time in history will be looked on upon as the benevolent leaders we elected stepped in to save us from an invisible enemy.  That massive government overreach is what saved us from almost certain death.  This could not be further from the true history.  I’ve been thinking: how would I explain this time to children of mine?  Hopefully children of mine would understand the importance of not abdicating personal responsibility on to a third party.  The proper role of a government is not to keep you safe.  This was a time when so many of the population placed the power of decision making in the hands of public officials.  We were told to listen to experts.  Not to question the experts.  The goal of being educated is to constantly question the experts, the authorities.  An unchecked authority is no goal for good governance.  During this time parks have been closed and basketball courts and playgrounds police-taped off.  Public utilities funded by our hard work denied to us.  We’ve been told this is for our own safety.  While this was occurring hardware stores and grocery stores remained open.  They were deemed essential.  Was there a vote on what was essential and what wasn’t?  No.  No one ever asked me what I found to be essential.  We just abdicated the power of deeming what is essential to government officials.  This was a huge loss of liberty.  If you can lose a right because of an emergency you never had that right to begin with.  This was a time corporations utilized a great marketing ploy of calling healthcare workers, delivery people, and police officers front line heroes.  A tactic previously bestowed upon military members.  A disgusting tactic of tapping into people’s emotions to sell them cell phone plans.  This should have been a time for self-reflection.  Most of the deaths that have occurred were caused by comorbidities that were exasperated by the coronavirus.  It should have been a time when people reflected on their health decisions.  According to the New York State Department of Health two of the biggest factors that led to coronavirus death were heart disease and diabetes, diseases of affluence.  Do I think this country will change its eating habits? No, I don’t hold out hope for that.  One of the more sickening aspects of this coronavirus has been the corporate media coverage of it.  The corporate media has been well known to be tools of the ruling elite.  They manipulate stories and mislead their citizenry to their advantage.  They have got so much wrong at this critical moment and have never had to backtrack or correct their story once.  Just right on to the next story.  This was a corporate media that lied us into war in 2002.  This same media was right back to its old ways.  I would hope that technology would be a new way for people to get their information.  Unfortunately during this unprecedented time we have also seen any dissenting opinions conveniently removed from internet platforms.  This has also become an economic disaster.  This country was already in economic turmoil regardless of what the stock market says.  High stock prices had become the measuring stick of a thriving economy.    So yes I do believe this to have been a critical time in the history of the world.  Only I will not see it the same way as I am being told to see it.  I will see this time as a great shift in abdication of responsibility to the government from the governed. 

Not all is negative though.  I have noticed some positive aspects in the face of this government overreach.  I have seen a resurgence of gardening and people understanding the importance of growing their own food.  I have noticed families spending more time together.  One of the sadder aspects of this pandemic has been the amount of deaths in the nursing homes.  Many were upset by these numbers but did not focus on the right aspect.  Why are so many families sending their elderly to nursing homes in the first place?  With the government intrusion into the field of medicine came a push to stick some our most prized citizens in nursing homes.  Beacons of wisdom stuck in cells.  We never reflected upon this practice and when disease broke out we left them susceptible. We wanted to blame the governor but we should be blaming ourselves for putting our elderly in that position.

For me personally I have found this to be a time where I have seen the shift with my own two eyes.  This was a time for me to question:  Can I live among a people who could vote for an Andrew Cuomo, a Laura Curran?  It has become more obvious to me the answer is no.  Farmingdale or New York for that matter is no longer a place tolerable for an independent liberty minded individual.  If you have not downloaded the latest allowable opinion into your hard drive you will not accepted by those around you in this area.  I write this piece in hopes a young man or woman may stumble upon it in the future.   Hopefully there is still a place for those of us who want to think

Waking up before my children and getting some me time in, it could be just sitting watching a show with a cup of tea, getting a workout in or getting some laundry folded.

Not saying NO too much. With everything being closed everything is a NO GO. So if they ask for the iPads, or to paint, or to do some baking, I tried to say yes as much as possible

I work in a hospital so I get to see other people. Strategies for coping is talking on the phone with my friends, taking classes, being in nature

Trying to be friendly and get to know our neighbors more. Being kind and courteous to those around us is always a good life lesson and should be followed.

Getting on the floor with my kids more even if it means responding to emails using my phone.

I also get up early to have time for myself. I started journaling and making my daily to do list and exercising before they get up. It’s been my saving grace.

Although I am remote working 4 days a week, the pandemic has allowed me to explore some of the beautiful hiking trails and preserves we have in Nassau and Suffolk. Isn't it amazing, before the pandemic, I could never find the time! Isolation is not healthy for the body or soul.

Having a routine that includes a wake time and go to bed time. Planning what I eat.

Hoarding fruit and veggies cans and pouches, soups with vegan proteins, in case fresh produce went away Reauthorizing all scripts i might need from the pharmacy. And any grocery, instacart, or amazon i over order and donate. - remembering my blessings and that i have the ability to help others helps me cope.

Try to take things one day at a time. Focusing on what I can control and not the million things outside of my control. Praying and trusting in God

Knowing all the things I've "lost"...my physical classroom, Mets games, dining out, 2 planned trips mean nothing because I haven't lost what means the most to me, my loved ones.

Going on Zoom to talk and/ paint with friends and binge watch shows and movies on Netflix.

 A new puppy

Physical exercise

Balance. Body, mind and soul. You have to feed all three equally. Light work, reading, meditation, walking, painting, gardening, water and sunshine. And fiber. Lots of fiber.

 

What emotions have you been experiencing during all this?

Answers:

FEAR!

Frustration with others who dont social distance and take it seriously

Disbelief

Scared

Stress from being overworked

confused and Fear and scared

Skepticisms

This is a great idea - not just for posterity but to help people understand they are not alone...here goes:

Sad that so many people have contracted this disease. Sad that we were unprepared for the pandemic..

Proud that our front line workers are stepping up to keep the country healthy,

fed and clean. Proud that the American spirit is alive and well in the acts of kindness demonstrated.

Anger at my government for abdicating its duties and responsibilities.

Frustration with my scientifically illiterate and intellectually lazy fellow citizens.

Sad and fearful that the entire world is now hurtling toward a dark economic and political period that will rival the 1930s.

Who would we contact? I have experiences with this pandemic that many are having but the majority of the Farmingdale community isn’t.

Fearful, sad for all who contract the virus, grateful for all workers helping in the emergency/medical fields, and so angry

Have you or a loved one been directly impacted or affected by the virus?

Answers:

I miss the library and the great people that work there.

Parents of my friends in nursing homes or assisted living have all contracted the virus. To make matters worse they are having trouble communicating with them, even by phone.

What do you miss doing the most?

Answers:

 

Seeing my niece and nephew in person especially they live in Massapequa. My niece missed her Junior Prom, and my nephew who is a Freshman made the Varsity Lacrosse team!!!!

Traveling to nyc for a weekend

Interaction with friends and family. Going out to eat. Going to the gym. Going to a store without having to wait on line to get in. The list goes on.

Hearing about my son's day at prek (and no graduation

Now that Long Island has entered Phase 3, what emotions are you experiencing about the pandemic itself and steps going forward? Do you plan to go to indoor places in the near future?

Answers:

I ate in Farmingdale diner today for breakfast. One customer at the counter and a friend and I at a booth. It was okay, but I don’t know how I feel about gong into a restaurant that is at 50% capacity. I’m afraid of an increase in cases as other states who opened quickly are having now.

I'm not even going to outdoor places yet

Now that 2020 is over, share your thoughts about it. What was it like for you? Do you feel more hopeful for 2021?

Answer:

I feel like 2020 was a mess. I was annoyed by our government’s lack of communication and response to the matter. The lying that things were under control annoyed me. I started 2020 being hopeful for my second child’s first birthday. We bought all the decorations only for them to sit sadly in a plastic bag unused. I lined up a photographer for his cake smash only for her to drop me. I ended up buying a background rig and doing it myself. So many missed moments in 2020. I kept my family home. We have extremely limited interactions with anyone. We pick up our groceries. I don’t believe a mask alone will protect me at the grocery store. Masks don’t make us invincible. We work from home, but ended up sending the children to daycare and school because they lost so much in 2020. I am not hopeful for 2021. I work for NYC schools and have been home since November. Every day I wake up and pray my union sends me an email so I can get vaccinated and go back to being face to face with students. No emails are coming. Not enough vaccines are coming. I would love nothing more than to have a party in the summer of this year to celebrate my and my husband’s 40th. The baby’s one and two years and my older son turning 7. I am just hoping for that little party. But I doubt it will happen.

Hope comes from within. A change in calendar doesn't make problems go away. Hard work and actions do. People will have different timing for their struggles and I am blessed to be able to help as much as I can during these times with the hope that when I need things people will be there to support me too. But I moved to the right town for kindness and community. ❤ to the food pantries, the restaurants with free food, the mechanic that worked for parts if people couldn't pay. The people who put up laminated pictures make a virtual egg hunt for Easter and the fire department for both fighting fires and helping Santa.

Meat Section

 

 

Farmingdale Target Paper Aisle

 

 

Train Station Platform

 

 

 

My grandfather passed away 4/18/20 at the age of 96.. He was a WW2 Veteran in the Army Air Corps. Here’s the American flag my mom was presented after the flag folding ceremony!!