A Shared Journey
Pandemic Perspectives (A Reflection)
Everyone of us were in some way affected by the pandemic, be it shared grief of a loved one stricken sick by COVID or the strange mental anguish of isolation and uncertainty. COVID-19 transformed our daily lives, replacing normal life with lock-downs, social distancing, and restrictions.
- From initial news alerts from distant Wuhan China ("Oh that's far away on the other side of the globe - it won't affect us...")
- To the tidal wave of deaths and depression ("At the beginning of the pandemic, the number of deaths from COVID-19 were too vast to keep up with, to the point that refrigerated trailer trucks had to store the bodies of the victims next to the hospital." ABC NEWS - Elmhurst Hospital - Queens, NYC)
- To finally... "hope on the horizon" with a massive vaccine program...
Yes we have all shared a journey through darkness when the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the globe. The pandemic has left an indelible mark on all of us. What was your personal journey like?
My Saga
(click to expand/collapse)My Personal Journey
At the onset of the pandemic, I was living in Stamford Connecticut and working in NYC in the illustrious Hudson Yards area. At work, a colleague kept showing us the dreadful photos from Wuhan of everyone wearing those strange face masks and hearing the scary reports of many many people getting sick and dying. Soon we we all notified to work from home indefinitely as the pandemic rolled into New York City.
After a few months of the new work-from-home-fulltime arrangement, I was laid off as the firm trimmed down and consolidated staff. After another few months of enjoying all that free time, my wife Cris and I decided it was time for a major change: "Lets move to a more rural environment!"
So we headed toward the Hartford area and--after another few months of searching—we found a nice modest house in South Glastonbury. With more studio space—I was a happy man! I even built a trail system behind the house in the hilly forest property we owned.
Another positive event occurred as my son moved back after 5 years in Colorado to join us. He soon bought a house in nearby East Hartford making this area more permanent for us than ever!
Despite taking all the vaccines, I developed COVID during the summer of 2023 and felt utterly miserable for a week or so.
Taking a Positive Spin On It All...
Although there were plenty of hardships for us, it wasn't all doom and gloom and—in the long run with the big move north—it's felt like a life changing rejuvenation!
Music
Throughout the pandemic I continued writing and recording music. Most of the time the tunes weren't specifically about the pandemic but a few popped out that dealt emotionally with COVID and the havoc and turmoil it created. Below are those tunes...
Dark Days
As isolation, social distancing and news of the daily death toll became the norm, life became increasingly grim. Quarantined and in shock, city streets emptied and many businesses closed.
Written and recorded - February 2021
Mother Nature's way of resetting the balance of mankind's overreach?
Hopeful
Its spring, flowers once again began blooming, and things were beginning to look promising (at least in the Northeast)!. The majority of folks had been vaccinated and public spaces were beginning to open up.
May 2021 - Its spring, flowers are blooming, and things are beginning to look promising...
"Take comfort, we are healing"
The New Normal
In 2024 although the pandemic is officially "over", as we all know too well: COVID is still lingering on the sidelines... ready to wreck havoc once more if we are not cautious. We must stay steadfast in our health and social diligence by:
- continuing with the vaccines;
- shopping locally to support the struggling Mom and Pop stores and above all;
- seeking truth in all that we read and do.
Love Is Here to Stay
"Learn to seek the truth to find its way..."
(Closing thoughts: a very positive vocal tune)