“April 7, 2020: tonight we went outside to look at the full moon. At 10:30 we were struck more with the silence, no car traffic, no airplanes, just quiet. It was amazing to stand under the moon and stars in our neighborhood, usually bustling with noise, and not hear a thing.” -Author’s journal entry
Several weeks ago we put out a call for community members to document daily life during the COVID-19 Pandemic and we are amazed by the response. The stories we have received share deeply personal thoughts and feelings, and provide observations into the changes that have taken place in all our lives over the past month. Here are a couple entries sent in by Miami Valley residents.
I, and a wave of graduating medical students, will be christened by chaos into the field of medicine. But in this moment, in relatively sleepy Dayton, Ohio, we wait and quietly prepare for the storm. –Medical Student
Day 4. Wow. That’s all I can say. My emotions are ranging from sadness to fear to anger to hope. Sadness that I will not be permitted to be at the hospital when my daughter gives birth. I will not hold my grandbaby in my arms for a long time. This weighs heavy on my heart. Fear of the virus for so many reasons. I’m susceptible, the baby, everyone. Fear for my friends who are on the front lines. Anger that this is even happening. Anger that there are some people who refuse to do what is necessary. Sherri, Springboro, Ohio
Hopefully these passages will inspire you to continue to write, blog, film, document, and ultimately share your experiences. Continue to check back for more stories. If you have questions about the project or are interested in donating material, please email [email protected].
UPDATE: We now have a Document Your Story homepage, where you can find the latest information on this project.