#covidstories

[cac-bgsu]

For National Library Week we're highlighting our COVID-19 Stories project by sharing some of the submissions we've received. One of the most important things that archives can do right now is document life under quarantine. bgsu.edu/SubmitCOVID19stories

[doxandpix]

Nearly 20 years ago was the last snow dressing Athens in White. We hadn’t been through a crisis, his wife still lived, there was no lockdown and snow was something to be joyful about. #coviddiaries #photographersinisolation #neighborhood #white #covidstories #newreality #futurepast https://www.instagram.com/p/CLWKsgrgrNG/?igshid=x0mc94rnwzjy

[mo99i3]

Having not really allowing the whole #COVID pandemic take over, keeping my anxiety in check and being as calm about it as possible, moreso to stop my kids being worried and stressed, I have to say, I feel pretty mugged off by it now!!! ..We have all had different symptoms, nothing is following any kind of covid pathway or pattern. From Samuel having a headache, to Kev having full on achy, flu like symptoms, then I develop the incredible covid rash! My skin is literally burning and so sore. Everytime I feel well enough to get something done, I am too exhausted to finish and have to lay down. Oh and today, #DAYSIX, we have just developed the cough!!! Honestly, this is no joke, I can honestly say I understand how people who are not 100% initially, become so poorly. It's grim?!!! Here's hoping we are over the worst now, I miss Lidl🤣😫😂 #COVIDSTORIES #DAYSIX #SOS https://www.instagram.com/p/CIJGB5thyURp-6CYpcxlDZg4-Gikx3N13wEbYw0/?igshid=gaz60qsn4217

[shopapanaki]

Today's Art Appreciation is "2020" by Sandra Acosta This is a definite mood. @sandraacosta_art #2020 #artappreciation #blackartmatters #blackfineart #covidstories #2020isamood (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHp3NsWg5i7/?igshid=bg5qy4zed48h

[cuddlepup]

Mr. Threenager . . . #birthdayboy #animals #covidstories #covidlockdown #zeketales #puppy #boopmynose #barked #dogsofinstagram #humanpetplay #zekeandmommy #puppiesofinstagram #boreddogs #dogswannahavefun (at Wagging Tails) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEzPJtNgAVf/?igshid=totp6hlvc7e2

[letscreateafricaorg]

Being positively COVID is one thing, but having your loved one's positive is truly another thing altogether. As the government's try to no great success balance lives and livelihoods, it would be a sensible move to have the relevant stakeholders at the discussion table. One day, allow me to give you my #covidstories #besafe #sanitize #washyourhands #socialdistance Subscribe 📝 Like 👍🏽 Share 🗣 #WaihigaKMuturi #WaihigaIsImpact #CreatorOfOpportunities #SerialSocialEntrepreneur #DigitalStoryteller #SocialConnector #ProfessionalMediator #LetsCreateAfrica #JobsInAfrica #TheFutureOfWork #WorkInAfrica #IkoKaziKE #SOKO @letscreateafrica ° ° ° ° #businessideas365 #africanstartups #communicationfordevelopment #impactcommunication #makingbrandshuman #communitydevelopment #sdgs #sdgskenya Again, Subscribe 📝 Like 👍🏽 Share 🗣 (at Somewhere in Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEm8nTeAW25/?igshid=d0s52zlrm1i9

[nikkivista]

Life Lately - 001: FIRST HALF OF AUGUST

*Currently typing this at 12:12AM of August 24 while at work, waiting if there will be medicine requests that I need to fill. I don’t know when I’ll finish this anyway.*

!!! VERY LONG POST AHEAD !!!

You read that intro, right? Yeah, I still suck at making blog entry introductions but I’ll try my best to keep on writing so I can enhance my undeniable noobness in writing such. 

Well, there’s so much to write about August so let me tell you what I can remember from all the happenings during the first half of it.

To give you an update, it’s already the 5th month of this quarantine thingy. I cannot think of a better term for that because it has been changing constantly. (If you know what I mean- those ECQ, MECQ, GCQ etc.) So I think “quarantine thingy” is the easiest to say. Having said that, it is also my 5th month of being away from home when I have work. I only get to go home when it is my day off which I kinda hate but got used to it already. I have no choice but to stay in a hospital room provided for me to sleep because there is still suspension of public mass transportation and it would be really costly if I carpool everyday. (I wish I follow my Tatay’s advice to buy a car already since I’m working na but you know, I’m a poor, young lady haha) Somehow, it felt like #adulting because I’m away from the comfort of my home and of course away from the comfort of my Nanay Digna (my grandmom) but having my workmates, who are my second family now, feels like I’m at home away from home. 

*just kidding* But really want to be a role model, or model nalang din, pwede naman hahaha

These past months, I managed to shrug off the worries and fears that CoVID-19 has been giving to everyone. You know, as they say it, “dedma lang”. Dedma in a way that it does not scare me that much, “yet”. Though there is fear in me but it isn’t awaken yet. Yes, I was “dedma lang” to CoVID during the first 3-4 months (I think) for as long as I know that I follow protocols and safety measures. I can’t say that I was safe but you know, I know in myself that I do the right things. (Except that I put down my mask sometimes haha, sorry!) 

The first week of August was a bit stressful for me. 

The number of positive cases that are admitted in the hospital that I am currently working at is evidently increasing. Not to mention that I share a room with other hospital staffs who have duties in the Isolation ward. I’m not discriminating them or something (PLEASE DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME!!!) but working in a Pharmacy means I have less exposure to the virus than they are. I fear that I may get expose and then go to the Pharmacy and unknowingly spread the virus to my workmates. I don’t want that to happen. Nobody wants to. So, that’s when the fear was awaken. I don’t know anymore if I’m virus-free or not. It’s hard to tell. We are fighting a foe that we cannot see. That thought had bothered me for more than a week. I even thought of resigning if something won’t change. My Lola was worried too. She even told me that it’s okay if I stop working for awhile as long as I’m safe and sound. (but you know, my financially independent self can’t do that, I want and need to work my ass off so I can provide for myself and for my lola atleast)

I was torn between staying at work or resigning.

I had to sleep in the Pharmacy for 2 consecutive nights because our Department Head told us that she’s going to transfer me to a new room. (Thanks Doc G for the concern huhu!)

Then....... a day before I go back to work, the Laboratory OIC told us that we are having a swab test the next day. Yes, a swab test! SWAB. TEST. Not that it’s a bad thing but I was afraid of the nasopharyngeal swab pain. 

August 7 | So yeah, everybody got swabbed that day. Then the next few days, I felt kind of unwell. Constantly checking if my temperature is still within the normal range.

*ENDING THIS ENTRY HERE BECAUSE IT’S TOO LONG ALREADY* 

[sleepybluehaze]

On the 5th day of August, 2020

139 days into “shelter in place” because ofthe Covid 19 virus, i heard about the first person I KNOW personally who lost their life from the virus. Seems this happened 3 or 4 days ago but it wasn’t until around 430pm my mom dropped the news asking if we should buy her daughters, both my good friends, a gift or make them food. And Im confused to why? Don’t I know? My mom asked. They posted their mom died and she had corona virus.

Wow, wait what? When? She says it’s been a couple days. But for some reason I don’t believe her I feel like somebody would have told me personally.

But would they? And why would they? I have again deactivated my Facebook and that was a couple months ago. Or a month ago. I don’t know the days go by at a weird speed.

I’m leaving the house I already want to get home to escape to my room and my home which is my comfort zone. Today was a hard and stressful day at work as my grandma is also not feeling well. Anyone not feeling well in any sort of physical form is a bigger worry than usual now.

And now it is even more because my good friends’ mom has died. Of corona virus. And I’m not sure how old she was but she was not old enough to die. She may not have been in the very best health but she was in no shape and form on a short path to death. But now, or as of several days ago she is dead.

Her two daughters who are like a year apart are my good friends. I’ve definitely called them best friends too at times. Life makes people busy but they are my homegirls maybe we had some stupid beef in the past for who knows why really but we’ve been close friends for a good decade now. I met them girls back in 2000 I believe or maybe it was even 99?? Kinda blurry those memories.

But we have lots of connections. I knew their mom she was forever a presence around them. She was their mother but she was also like their friend. She lived with each of them for long stints so I always was around their mom. They still lived with their mom when I met them way back when. None of us were mothers then. We were all just crazy locas.

But their kids and my kids are friends and have grown up together too. Around the same age, all of them. Their mom through all of her faults loved the fuck outta her grandkids. And her kids.

She was funny. I remember at the bailes she dressed way younger than she was and the dudes liked her. They liked her romantically but she also had respect from lots of other dudes for handling business. She helped lots of people, many times doing interpreting or whatever with the people who newly arrived from Mexico.

When I first met them she would flirt with my sons dad. Way before my son was even thought of. She called him his nickname he always gave people he didn’t know and I hated that. She added a persons twist. It was silly I was jealous as she was way grown and at that time my sons dad was like 18. But shit dudes be scandalous!! Bitches too obviously.

I love her daughters very much and it breaks my heart so bad that this happened. And that I didn’t know at all. Nobody did tell me but I finally verified it asking my daughter to look on Facebook. I cried right in front of her.

I cried making dinner. In the drug store that I went to to buy some sympathy cards. I know cards are kinda a lost art but I’m glad some still exist. I wonder as I’m looking tearfully through them which ones could convey the sorrow I felt for them. I have an unusual loss for words. Damn it I always have plenty of words!

One of her daughters said she was shutting her phone off for awhile. Understandable. I also don’t want to show up or just address this online.

So I started with cards and I’m not entirely sure what to write. What do you say when people you love lose their mother? Horribly I have had so many of my friends already lose their parents even though most of us are only in our mid 30s and early 40s. Times like this make me so happy to be the child of teenage parents, however I know that’s somewhat false security. Especially in these times. And of course the loss of their mother makes me think of how quick I could lose mine. I could. And I might. And so might everyone I know who still has their mothers. Or fathers.

Logically I knew this would happen, anyone paying attention could realize that every single one of us would personally know someone who is going to die of Covid. Very, very possibly several people. I knew it but today it really hit home.

And we’re so early in and the fucking President was on the news AGAIN stating that it will “go away” and that children are “almost entirely immune” which are both dangerous and absolutely false statements. He’s checked out on this fight a long time ago. We are on our own and at the mercy of decades after decades of cuts on safety nets, medical services, access to medical, just so much shit is about to crash down.

This was a big crash for me. I still got to think how I can adequately express my sympathy to my dear friends.

The eery thought crossed my mind as I searched through the sympathy cards as to how many would be here the next time I needed to look. And how long till next time? Certainly not long enough.

This shit sucks.