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2020-04-04Use. Full.
This story, "Use. Full" speaks to my feelings of uselessness as lockdown set in and the irony that, because I had the time and not much else to do - because I knew people who knew people and was armed with a smart phone and limitless wifi - I was able to be of use in a remote, emergency situation. I am a professional actor, writer and singer, for whom all performance work was brought to an abrupt halt. I have family and friends who are clinicians and who, unlike me, (still) find themselves on the frontlines of the pandemic dealing with their own pandemic-wrought stress. There was something strangely comical about doing nothing, this enforced idleness, being touted as my patriotic duty. It is especially difficult to accept that proposition when usefulness and productivity have been so ingrained and associated with 'getting your hands dirty.' My smartphone and computer, devices often derided as barriers to 'real' human connection became the conduits for the only real connection we could have other than with the loved ones we were isolating with. The 'pings' of text notifications were welcome accompaniments to days spent reading, watching movies, amusing ourselves with the latest pandemic-inspired memes. -
2020-04-20Bringing SMILES to the VA or Mpls and the Waters of Plymouth Senior Living
My sister is an RN for the VA and contacted me in April, when there was a shortage of Masks. She asked if I could bring some smiles to the patients so that is how I got started. I have made or 100 different character masks for the VA and for my Mothers Senior Independent Living Apartments since their lockdown. They couldn't wait for the arrival of the next drop off to see what I had created next. I've had fun wearing them in stores as I shop, bring SMILES to fellow shoppers and FIRST RESPONDERS who too need that SMILE everyday. I also invented a little something that keeps the mask from SUCKING into their mouth when they speak. Every version got better and better as I kept creating. It brought a lot of enjoyment to me.