Items

• 
  2020-03-13

  How I got involved with A Journal of the Plague Year

  In March 2020, I was working with two other history graduate students on an oral history project of an international non-profit agency. We'd conducted several interviews, and had some scheduled for the week of Spring Break, March 9-13. COVID-19 turned into a real thing that week; the number of cases seemed to be escalating, schools and universities were starting to shut down, all capped off on Wednesday, March 11, with the World Health Organization declaring that a global pandemic was underway. I had an oral history interview scheduled in downtown Phoenix late in the morning of Friday the 13th. I doubted whether the interview would really go forward, but had not gotten the word that it was cancelled. I booked a rideshare to head downtown for the interview. As we were headed down the freeway, a rather freakish thunderstorm started, unusual for that time of year. When I was about halfway downtown, I finally got the word that the interview was cancelled. To not waste the ride, I re-directed the driver to the Arizona Historical Society in north Tempe, where I needed to pick up some things for some other work I was doing. The historical society was open, but there were very few people there. I picked up what I needed, and decided to walk from there across the river to campus, where I could meet my wife and get a ride home. As I left, the storm clouds were pretty dramatic, and I took the attached photo. On my walk I crossed the Mill Avenue bridge and passed Tempe Beach Park. Workers were taking down the tents and other equipment for the St. Patrick's day festival, which the city had just cancelled. I got to my wife's office, and we went home. As it happened, my wife was on her last day before moving to a position at another department at ASU. She reported there Monday morning and was sent home with everyone else in her office by noon. Also, my son was home for Spring Break from the University of Arizona that week, and he never went back that semester. When I got home that Friday, I found that my colleagues on the oral history project and I had gotten emails from Drs. Mark Tebeau and Catherine O'Donnell about a new project, which they were calling "A Journal of the Plague Year." The idea was to start a historical archive of what we could already see was an event of significant historical impact. This archive would come from the contributions of ordinary people, not content selected by archivists. I was happy to jump over to this new project. It gave me a new project for the semester, but above all it was very interesting work on a very innovative project. Over the next few weeks, I started working with the team curating the new collection, which grew rapidly to thousands of items. The number of volunteers expanded beyond ASU, and I found myself working with people from other institutions around the world. That Friday the 13th stands out for me as the day the pandemic closed everything down, but also opened up opportunities.
• 2025-03-31

  5 Year Reflection

  Five years since COVID, and so much has changed. Since COVID, I have: - Obtained my driver’s license (July 2022) - Obtained my MA in global history (May 2022) - Started working as a behavioral therapist (May 2023) - Became an aunt (July 2022) - Had my grandma on my dad’s side die (January 2022) - Had my grandpa on my mom’s side die (October 2023) - Been married five years to my husband (we married in May 2019) These are all just some personal events that have happened. That said, some things have stayed since COVID. One thing I really notice are people being more willing to call off work and school more often if they feel sick. I myself have had to call off work a few times due to illness myself, and because I work with such young populations, I want to make sure they don’t catch whatever I have. I’m glad my job is pretty okay with calling out sick when needed, because some employers will still pressure people to come to work sick. Speaking of illness and sickness, my dad (who is a doctor) has been glad he doesn’t have to wear full PPE anymore for work. I remember him telling me he got sweaty so easily. COVID has still affected the medical industry a lot, as there is still a doctor shortage for the amount of care needed. My mom, who has a history of working in special needs education, has said that she has noticed kids being behind socially and academically due to lockdowns, and this being especially detrimental to their development. The kids would sometimes lack access to computers to do work, especially if the parents had to work from home and there was no computer available. Sometimes, I believe schools provided laptops for COVID (happened with my youngest sister), but I’m unsure of how well funded other schools were for that. When it came to social skills, my mom described lots of regression in those areas (such as difficulty interacting with peers). One thing that has really come back to normal since COVID are people dining in large groups again, in close proximity. I remember my first anniversary that was during COVID, and the dinner experience then was so much different than today. I remember having to make a reservation (they were mandatory), all the staff were masked, the capacity was limited, and tables were spaced far apart from each other. One perk is that it felt a bit like private dining, but I’m also glad I can now just walk into any restaurant without having to go through all those steps. At the time, I felt like lockdowns would last forever, but looking back, it wasn’t as long as I thought it would be. Eventually, businesses had to open up again in order to make enough money. Speaking of business, the economy still hasn’t recovered well since COVID. The record federal spending in 2020-2022 (some of it COVID related), has made economic recovery slow down. Industry needs to be brought back in order to keep things functioning. There have been political changes too since COVID. When COVID started in November 2019 (lockdowns didn’t happen until March 2020), Trump was president. Then from 2021-2025, Biden was president. Honestly, I think being president during COVID would have been tough on anyone, and the response to it both affected Trump’s and Biden’s presidencies. Trump’s approach was to keep lockdowns for 1-2 months at its highest, then open up businesses again to prevent economic disruption. Biden, on the other hand, had a policy that expressed more caution, and encouraged lockdowns to last longer (in addition to masking). Ultimately, it was up to the governors of each state to decide when lockdowns ended. Doug Ducey, the then governor of Arizona, kept lockdowns until around early 2022. Other states, like Florida, opened up as early as the summer of 2021. Ohio, a state I used to live in, also opened up in the summer of 2021. Overall, most states were fully opened by 2022, and 2022 was the year I could go to the Renaissance Festival again (the last time I went before that was in February of 2020 before lockdowns). The state of emergency had to be lifted for the fair to happen again. Culturally, there’s been a big shift since COVID. Celebrity worship being looked down upon is probably one of the biggest changes I’ve seen. At a time where people lost their jobs, were under lockdown in small apartments, and had tight finances, you had a bunch of celebrities in this viral video singing “Imagine” from their mansions in order to help people cope with lockdowns. It understandably was seen as tone deaf, and ti me was the real beginning of the end to celebrity worship that was present in the 2010s. Also, celebrities now have to compete with influencers to earn money, so you see a lot more celebrities launching brands to maintain their income. Some of the brand attempts have been more successful than others. Additionally, way more celebrities are on apps like TikTok competing for attention, and that loses some of the mystique celebrities maintained prior to ubiquitous social media. Overall, I would say that COVID has had a great impact on so many aspects of life. I’ve gained a lot more skills since COVID, and now can say that my work history looks better than before. It really helped that I was able to take care of elderly during COVID, because if I worked in most other industries, I may have been out of a job. For that I will always be grateful. I’ve also learned that I need more social interaction in my everyday life to stay mentally healthy. I don’t need a ton, but the lack of it during COVID really brought my mood down. Even today, I’m still happy when a cashier wants to talk to me. I now cherish my social interaction more since COVID. Learning to drive during COVID has probably been one of my biggest life changes though. It helped me get the job I have today, in addition to being able to do the grocery shopping myself, in addition to getting myself to appointments. What I want in the next five years is to be a mom, and hopefully that will happen. Parts of my life did stop, but since I kept persevering, I’m not as “behind” on life as I think I am.
• 
  2025-03-15

  Reflections on Five Years After Lockdown

  Looking back five years later, I realize there were aspects of lockdown that I actually enjoyed. I appreciated the slower pace of life, the daily walks along Tempe Town Lake, and the sense of escape they provided. True crime podcasts became my constant companions, keeping me entertained and distracted. One of the most meaningful experiences was working on the COVID archive, where I bonded with a class of history MA students. Through Zoom, we shared both endearing and difficult moments, forming connections that were unlike anything I’ve experienced in my teaching career. At our last meeting, several of us teared up—it was a moment of shared vulnerability that still stands out. But there were plenty of downsides. I developed a habit of drinking when I was bored, sometimes finding myself hungover during the workweek—something I wouldn’t have typically done before. I also slowly gained weight, which was frustrating. On top of that, I learned I had severe anemia, and by the end of the day, the fatigue made everything harder. Thankfully, I’ve since made changes. I now limit drinking to social outings, rarely drinking at home or alone. Surgery helped address my anemia, and I’ve managed to reverse the pandemic weight gain. One of the most important conversations to come out of the pandemic was about mental health. My baseline happiness felt like it had bottomed out after lockdown, and it took real effort to rebuild. Starting therapy was a turning point, giving me the space to work through the big picture. Looking back, I’m just relieved that I found my way back to my version of normal. The pandemic also reshaped my daughter’s early education. I remember pulling Maya out of school and deciding to homeschool her. I had been so excited for her to start first grade at Kyrene del Norte’s bilingual school, but the reality of online learning was overwhelming. Sitting on Zoom for 4–5 hours a day was too much, and like many parents, I found myself half-working, half-listening in her bedroom to make sure I caught any important announcements. When Maya’s teacher scolded her for going to the bathroom, she started saying things like, “I don’t like school or learning.” That was a red flag. As an online educator myself, I knew even adults would struggle to stay engaged on Zoom for that long—much less young kids. I spoke with the principal twice, and while I understood they were doing their best, I knew we couldn’t endure a full year of drawn-out virtual classes. So, I pulled her out and homeschooled her for a while, following the Blossom and Bloom curriculum. Even now, I still worry about the gaps in Maya’s learning, particularly in math. Despite my best efforts, I wasn’t the strongest math teacher. She’s now in Mathnasium, which is helping her build a stronger foundation as she moves toward middle and high school. The long-term effects of pandemic schooling are something I still think about, but I hope the steps we’ve taken will help her in the years to come. Five years later, the impact of the pandemic still lingers in so many ways. But in reflecting on these experiences—the struggles and the small victories—I’m reminded of how much resilience and adaptation it took to get through.
• 2025-03-14

  5 years on

  Just wanted to submit one more time. I spent two years working on JOTPY as part of my ACLS Emerging Voices fellowship and it was two of the best years of my life despite the world having been put on pause by the pandemic. Due to the pandemic, my job prospects were nil after graduating with my PhD in 2019. But I found a home at JOTPY and ASU while I worked on the archive and taught courses for SHPRS. After two years I moved on and found my tenure-track forever job at Saint Leo University outside of Tampa FL. I’m so grateful for my time with JOTPY. It was right there when I needed it and I think a lot of other people felt like that too. Signing off!!!
• 
  2025-03-03

  Five Years Later

  A few things come to mind when I reflect on the pandemic of 2020. Toilet paper still seems to be one of my top thoughts. I quickly think about my family and how we were lucky to be spared. My husband was an essential worker, I was a student finishing up my masters degree and had a five and a two-year-old. I can’t say life was “normal” because of social distancing, masks, limitations on where we could go and what we could do. My oldest started kindergarten through a computer screen, there was new information (and disinformation) almost everyday and I can’t forget the civil rights protests that flooded every day news channels. What stuck to me was all the talk of a “new normal” while we were in this whirlwind. Looking back now it’s interesting to step back and realize that this, today, is that “new normal”. The masks are gone (some still wear them by choice) the toilet paper is back, and life just carried on. The biggest lesson learned is one I hope we can all agree on, one I hope we all share. Life is fragile. We’re here today and gone tomorrow, we should stop and savor each and every moment. Covid taught me to appreciate those around me because we never know when our time is up. I learned to be more compassionate, I owe that to the amazing Kit Harrington. Kit collected an amazing array of stories from peoples from all walks of life (if you haven’t taken a moment ti check that out, you totally should). The stories of all those people still affect me today. As different as everyone is, we always have something in common. I will always cherish the hours I spent listening to each and every one of those stories. My hope is that everyone takes a minute to reflect on their version of “new normal” that we remember the compassion we had for one another in a time when we weren’t sure what tomorrow would bring. The picture attached is one I just took, in a beautiful coffee shop enjoying my new normal.
• 
  2020-05-23

  Disturbing Neighborhood Walk

  An Instragram story of a photo I took on a walk in London during lockdown. The streets were almost always empty.
• 
  2021-03-30

  #JOTPYFuture from randomquips

  I hope that the cases go down, the vaccine is effective, no new virus wreaks havoc, and we can go back to a relatively normal way of living #joptyfuture
• 
  2021-03-30

  #JOTPYFuture from wanderlust_wilsons

  I haven’t seen my parents and siblings in almost 2 years due to COVID. Looking forward to heading back home to Michigan. #jotpyfuture
• 
  2021-03-30

  #JOTPYFuture from _messes

  I hope for everyone to bring every lesson they learned during the pandemic in the future. And to remember to cherish simple things that truly matters. #JOTPYFuture
• 
  2021-03-30

  #JOTPYFuture from compassrosetattoo

  hope to be back in the classroom helping kids recover from the trauma of this past year. I can’t wait to see my grandparents in person again! But I don’t expect the word to be what it was before. Not sure what that might look like. #jotpyfuture
• 
  2021-03-30

  #JOTPYFuture from kumarshivani285

  I hope that we will remember to appreciate the simple aspects of life long after covid ceases to be an issue. It would be a solid lesson learned and not easily forgotten #jotpyfuture
• 
  2021-03-21

  #JOTPYFuture from chellenguyenwilson

  Post vaccinations, I hope to be able to travel more this summer and escape the brutal AZ heat! 🔥🔥🔥 dreaming of a day where I can eat inside restaurants with friends and family! Looking forward to volunteering more in the public, looking at ways to help out Azscend in the Chandler community #jotpyfuture
• 
  2021-03-01

  #JOTPYFuture from Rebeccag1257

  I hope that we remain vigilant and continue to practice good hygiene and preventative measures @devuku @kumarshivani285 @randomquips @ravdrav257 @bhushan_bhalla7
• 
  2021-04-01

  #JOTPYFuture from Doris Morgan Rueda High voltage sign

  #JOTPYFuture Hoping for a more science and medicine literate future! Public health impacts all of us, everywhere Microbe
• 
  2021-04-01

  #JOTPYFuture from Jake Breadman Tangerine

  Hybridized in-person/virtual graduate programs so I can go to any university in the world while living in Canada to save money. #JOTPYFuture
• 
  2021-04-02

  #JOTPYFuture from Sarah

  Hoping for widespread vaccination by summer so I can hug my friends and family. #JOTPYFuture
• 
  2021-04-01

  #JOTPYFuture from m-uh

  With so many people sharing their apprehension towards vaccinations, I hope more effort will be put into promoting the effectiveness of vaccines. #JOTPYFuture
• 
  2021-04-01

  #JOTPYFuture from MacKenzie Brash

  I am really hoping that at least my older relatives are vaccinated by summer (though I have little hope for myself). I'd love to be able to travel outside Canada by Christmas. #JOTPYFuture
• 
  2021-03-19

  #JOTPYPhoto from wanderlust_wilsons

  So much bread during quarantine times #jotpyphoto 🍞🍞🍞
• 
  2021-03-10

  #JOTPYSilver from mszneyugn

  #jotpysilver my silver lining was that this pandemic has taught me how little I actually need to be happy. It all came down to knowing that family was safe, having quality time, and learning to appreciate the simplicities in life. It’s taught me a different level of empathy and patience that I didn’t know I needed.
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from ellie.craft

  #jotpysilver my silver lining was that i got to get a kitty and spend lots of time with her.
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from purplegenevre

  #jotpysilver Jobs that may not have been an option for me a couple years ago (fixed-term positions out-of-state) are now totally options for me because they’ve recognized the need to offer remote employment options.
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from hayden.craft_

  #jotpysilver my silver lining during the pandemic was when all 5 of the major American sports were playing at the same time, due to the season delays that year and it was an awesome week of sports. I can speak for me and all my friends in saying it was definitely a bright spot during such a hard time.
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from Nicole

  itsnicolegaston My silver lining is that more time at home allowed me to be able to spend time studying for my classes and the LSAT. I graduated from ASU in December, summa cum laude, and aced the LSAT. Over the past weekend I received my first law school acceptance with a scholarship offer. I probably would not be attending law school in the fall if the pandemic didn’t happen.
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from Mark and Michelle Wilson

  wanderlust_wilsons #jotpysilver fun budget has been $$$. Saved so much money this year, looking forward to taking more trips in the last half of 2021. Also, love supporting and discovering local business with takeout/curbside pickup
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from Michelle Wilson

  chellenguyenwilson #jotpysilver my silver linings...helping the environment by commuting less since we both work from home! Speaking quality time with hubby and making no excuses for our house projects! 🌿
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from Keri Bishop

  keri_on #JOTPYsilver I got engaged and purchased my first home. And then adopted two kittens who now are my coworkers as I continue to WFH
• 
  2021-03-09

  #JOTPYSilver from Christine

  christinejwong #jotpysilver I’m grateful I got to spend more time with my kids that wouldn’t haven been possible if I was going into the office 5 days a week.
• 
  2021-03-22

  #JOTPYLesson from kumarshivani285

  kumarshivani285 I have learned that there are so many things in life that we take for granted. There is definitely a difference between the way I view family interactions now and before the pandemic. I always assumed that I would be free to visit and see my family as I pleased and never even fathomed what it would be like to not have that luxury. I now cherish every time I get to see them and make the absolute most of each visit. Small things in life have taken greater precedence. Sometimes it is nice to be reminded of what really matters and go back to the basics #jotpylesson
• 
  2021-03-22

  #JOTPYLesson from Ellie Craft

  ellie.craft I’ve learned that i do not like online school #JOTPYlesson
• 
  2021-03-22

  #JOTPYLesson from compassrosetattoo

  compassrosetatoo I was raised religious. But I am not now. This past year though, I have been thinking about Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. I realized that for all my rushing this is the time for standing still and enjoying things I took for granted. I am learning how to do that.
• 
  2021-03-22

  #JOTPYLesson from wanderlust_wilsons

  wanderlust_wilsons With all this extra time...I pushed myself to get back into running and biking 🚲🏃🏼 #JOTPYlesson
• 
  2021-03-22

  #JOTPYLesson from tinykikisunshine

  tinykikisunshine I learned to speak up when conditions are unsafe, when politics are being prioritized over safety, and my community is being put at risk. I learned that voices do make a difference and no retaliation should silence me. Not a bad lesson for an introvert! #jotpylesson
• 
  2021-03-22

  #JOTPYLesson from Michelle Wilson

  I have learned to breathe and meditate more. It’s okay to slow down! I’ve learned it’s okay to gain a few pounds (pandemic baking) I’ve learned to love myself more! 💛 #JOTPYlesson
• 
  2021-04-03

  JOTPYFuture submission from Tri Le

  #JOTPYFuture For the future I hope to go out and go to my favorite restaurants without the worry of catching COVID-19.
• 
  2021-04-03

  #JOTPYFuture from Frost

  #JOTYPfuture Hoping for some Marvel movies with friends :)
• 
  2021-04-05

  #JOTPYFuture from rishah

  I hope that the cases go down, the vaccine is effective, no new virus wreaks havoc, and we can go back to a relatively normal way of living #joptyfuture
• 
  2021-04-03

  JOTPYFuture submission from HelloThere

  #JOTPYFuture I hope to finally be outside again meeting new people without being constrained by social distancing and a pandemic-less world.
• 
  2021-04-02

  #JOTPYFuture entry from Meowlody

  My bad ! Well , I'm hoping that this pandemic will stop getting worse and we'll be able to go back to our normal lives. It's quite sad that we can't meet people normally anymore. :((
• 
  2021-03-02

  #JOTPYFuture from Fernanda L

  I just hope people don't let their guard down and keep caring themselves so at the same time everyone is protected and we can go back to normality. I'm an essential worker and I miss my friends 😢 #JOTPYFuture @TheZeldaAnn @_Zikyo @AnneBer49076654 @CoreOfTheNight @suppertacos
• 
  2021-03-31

  #JOTPYFuture from Marissa Rhodes

  I look forward to spending time with friends and family that don’t live in our household, and being able them. I’m also looking forward to my kids being in school full time again. Especially my 5 yo whose ability to make friends has been destroyed by the pandemic #JOTPYFuture
• 
  2021-02-28

  #JOTPYLesson from Jamie Bryant

  I have learned that I'm really terrible at time management. To achieve everything I want to accomplish, I'll need the lifetime of two Methuselahs. Now that I'm officially half-dead (middle aged), perhaps it's time to push some things off the table and hope I can make time for them in the next lifetime. Like sky diving.
• 
  2021-02-22

  #JOTPYLesson from Marissa Rhodes

  I learned how to enjoy my kids' company. Before COVID and the resultant lockdown, I used to have anxiety about spending long periods of time at home with my kids. I felt like I needed to entertain them the entire time and like I was never doing a good enough job. COVID meant I had to face the fear really quickly. I learned what I loved about spending quality time with them and most importantly, that it's OK to encourage my kids to entertain themselves. #JOTPYLesson Joan Winnie Peggy Christman Mary Biggie-Beyer Jac Que Kelly Tee
• 
  2021-02-27

  #JOTPYLesson from Linda Mercado-Paulson

  All we have is our little tiny family but we are all One and we all love each other😘❤️
• 
  2021-02-27

  #JOTPYLesson from Brad Baker-Nicholas

  I have learned that we are all able to handle more than we ever thought. I have also learned that as people we need to work together more as humans instead of work against one another for the common good 🙂 @covid19archive1 #JOTPYLesson Pj Baker-Nicholas Nancy Beard-Ash Sheila Harman Kim Herrington Mendy Lewis Torrance
• 
  2021-03-01

  #JOTPYLesson from Robin Keagle

  In retrospect, I have learned that the initial stay-at-home order was an unexpected gift to my husband, daughter, and me. Although the reason for it was unfortunate, it turned out to be a blessing in many ways. Instead of rushing to and from school and work, we had time to eat together more, watch movies, and develop a comfortable but temporary new routine. To be sure, not every day was bright and shiny yet we definitely appreciated this unique time together. Our youngest will be off to college in a couple of years which made it even more special to have those moments with her. Family is everything. PS. I also learned that Zoom has a great HD filter that allows me to wear much less make-up, and how to coordinate a work blouse with pajama pants which is a silver lining indeed. #JOTPYLesson Julie Watters Amber Peters Kim Kimberly Rankin Michele Gable Stefanie Thayer Sinanovic
• 
  2021-02-27

  #JOTPYLesson from Daniel Lopez

  Throughout the pandemic, I've learned the importance of family. My personal challenges during this very difficult period could not have been overcome without the unconditional love and support from my family. Thank you and I love all of you! Linda Mercado-Paulson Isabel Peralta Jay Jay Peralta Jacob Mercado Jennifer Conroy Jessica Linda Mercado Kristina Danielle @covid19archive1 #JOTPYLesson
• 
  2021-02-27

  #JOTPYLesson from Brandon Kyle Presley

  I have learned over the course of the pandemic to be thankful for those around me. As I have seen many lose loved ones over the past year, it has reminded me how important family and friends are in life and that one cannot overcome difficult times alone. Apart from those friends and family, we as individuals can do very little. Jacob Lute Joshua Colson Dakota Presley Whitney Lute Thomas Lovett #JOTPYLesson
• 
  2021-03-04

  #JOTPYFuture from Clinton Roberts

  After the COVID-19 pandemic, my hope for the future is that people appreciate their time with one another. The pandemic has made me realize that virtual experiences and phone calls are not the same. We must remain vigilant and safe, but fully appreciative of our family and friends when those opportunities arise. #JOTPYFuture Lawson Miller Kelly Hoile McDaniel Morgan Keena Shawn McDaniel II Chris Twing
• 
  2021-03-16

  #JOTPYPhoto from Katy Kole de Peralta

  Working from home w/ Dora the Bulldog Explorer