Items
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Michigan
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2020-08
Memories are Like Waterfalls; a Post-COVID-19 Recovery Vacation
As a survivor of COVID-19 with long-lasting damage, this memory still brings feelings of anger and fear to the surface. It takes place at a family cabin that was the epicenter of many happy memories all the way from childhood through becoming a parent myself. That first trip back forced me to see all that COVID-19 had stolen from me and would continue to steal from me for the rest of my life. -
2020-05-03
Belly Buttons & Makeba
Most people probably don’t think of belly buttons when they think of a pandemic. They likely also don’t think of the South African Activist Miriam Makeba. However, when I consider the earliest days of covid, those days before I realized I would be teaching online for an extended time, or that my Varsity Lacrosse players whom I had coached through their careers would never step on a field for our 2020 season, my life was all about belly buttons and a song called Makeba by a French Singer-Songwriter. In April of 2020, schools in Michigan closed, sending me home with every other educator to figure out online teaching. Also at this time, my daughter, Edie, was just over one year old. She was very fond of her “Beluh-but’n” (bellybutton) and ran around the house proudly showing hers off, thinking she was hilarious. To her credit, it was hilarious, and also adorable. She had recently heard the song Makeba by Jain on a BMX video featuring my husband from when he used to ride professionally, and it became her anthem. Even at three years old, she still requests Makeba in the car, though today it is second to David Bowie or Vampire Weekend these days. She would dance to it on repeat, her little feet on her ABC play mat making a sticky pitter-patter, her arms swinging wildly, and her diapered baby butt dropping low like she was in a nightclub. She was, and still is, one of the funniest little humans I have encountered. The attached sound clips are recorded from a video of Edie, my daughter, strumming my guitar on its stand, while singing her version of Makeba. These videos are some of my favorites, her head bobbing and bum wiggling with her music. These are the sounds that filled my house and my heart throughout those first weeks of quarantine, and they still bring me nothing but immense joy and thankfulness. Covid for me meant more time at home with her. I was there when she woke up, we spent much of our days outside in the warming spring weather, and I nursed her and tucked her in for naps and at bedtime. We were lucky, we did not face financial crisis or unemployment, nor did we or our loved ones fall seriously ill. The result was time at home together as a family. While the restrictions and isolations of covid did mount over time, and stress of restrictions were certainly felt during my second pregnancy for my baby boy born in May of 2021, by and large, our lives just kept moving. We adjusted, we kept a small circle of trusted friends and family, and we were cautious. But when it came down to it, covid to me will always be marked by extra time with my daughter, time that I would not have had if the pandemic did not change everything about our lives. I wouldn’t trade the extra moments of her laughter, dancing, snuggles, or silliness for the world. -
2022-04-15
Michigan State University enforces vaccine mandate, drops mask mandate [PRIVATE]
This is a text story from Channel 3 News by Jaiyda Tyler. This is about Michigan State University and the mandates for that university. The university has decided to drop the mask mandate, but enforce the vaccine mandate. This new policy will require all participating in the 2022-2023 academic school year to be fully vaccinated and to have received a booster shot. This mandate will affect people participating in the summer 2022 session. All students that do not submit their vaccine information will be prevented from enrolling in the summer 2022 and fall 2022 sessions at MSU. -
2021-03-12
Finally Eligible to be Vaccinated
I am on Twitter. I have used Twitter as a news source since before the pandemic broke in early 2020. This is a screen shot of how I learned my husband (who has pre-existing medical conditions & is 43 years old) & I ( 38 years old) would be eligible to get vaccinated. I will never forget this moment. I felt elated, joyful, & relieved. It was like a cloud that I didn’t even know was looming over me had lifted. -
2021-03-31
Chris M. Monaghan Oral History, 2021/03/31
This is an oral history of Chris M. Monaghan, an artist based in Dexter Michigan, conducted by Monica Ruth, a graduate student intern with the COVID-19 archive, A Journal of the Plague Year. Chris talks about his street art/chalk artwork, participating in chalk art festivals, how the pandemic has influenced the festival and artist scenes, the sense of community in chalk art, and how chalk art is a source of entertainment, hope, and outlet for mental and physical health. -
2021-02-28
Why COVID-19 is delaying the issuing of death certificates in Michigan
COVID-19 has slowed the process of many official documents, including death certificates. In Michigan, a process that normally takes 1-2 days can now take 3-4 days. They are also facing issues with the mail service and receiving the necessary documents to issue a certificate. -
02/11/2021
Tracey Kole Oral History, 2021/02/11
I recorded a mini oral history with my mom about silver linings. -
2021-01-11
How I Learned My Parents Were Getting the COVID Vaccine
This is the way I learned my parents were scheduled to get their COVID vaccine. I don’t know what one they’ll get - and it doesn’t matter to me or them. They are 65 (66 in February 2021). My dad has a heart condition. I am deeply relieved that they were able to be scheduled to get one!! I am so grateful! -
2020-11-15
Symphony Reinvention: Orchestras, GR Ballet cope with COVID upheaval, revamp for survival
With concert halls unable to open due to COVID-19, many performing arts groups have to find alternate ways to perform and raise money. -
2020-10-02
Keep Calm and Coffee On
This picture was taken recently during a coffee tasting with my coworkers. I did not take the photo. I am an ASU student submitting this as part of an assignment for HST485. This photo captures a light moment during what has been a stressful time (both for customers and retail workers like myself). It demonstrates resilience and humor in the face of challenges. The photo was taken in Gaylord, Michigan on October 2, 2020. -
2020-10-08
Plot to Abduct Governor Gretchen Whitmer
A ring of COVID-19 skeptics have targeted Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in a kidnapping plot. -
2020-08-21
Nearly half the population at Michigan prison tests positive for COVID-19
This Tweet and it's responses show how the public feels about the Covid-19 outbreak within one of Michigan's prisons. The article referenced also explains how this particular facility had spent months with no cases and then had a sudden outbreak, illustrating how dependent prisons and the communities they are a part of are when it comes to the spread of Covid=19.