Items

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  2020-04-21

  Notes From an Essential Worker Series #5

  The COVID-19 virus disrupts life, particularly our relationships with those we love. But, relationships are flexible and adapt to circumstance. My mom cut my hair until I left for college. Her grandfather was a barber, and because she cut my brothers' hair, too, she had a lot of practice. After COVID-19 closed our schools and sent us home, my mom cuts our hair again. On her note, she let us know that she had time to cut our hair today after work. Although COVID-19 has closed the barbers down, my brothers and I still have fresh cuts. #FordhamUniversity #VART3030
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  2020-04-28

  Notes From an Essential Worker Series #4

  The COVID-19 virus disrupts life, particularly our relationships with those we love. But, relationships are flexible and adapt to circumstance. My mom wrote my dad this sign before his big meeting with a German client overseas. He had been under a lot of stress preparing for the meeting, so my mom put this note of encouragement on his office door to let him know she was thinking about him. Although she could not wish him luck in person because she works such long hours now, she still found a way to be there for him. #FordhamUniversity #VART3030
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  2020-04-10

  Notes From an Essential Worker Series #3

  The COVID-19 virus disrupts life, particularly our relationships with those we love. But, relationships are flexible and adapt to circumstance. Any other year, my mom would stay home from work on Good Friday and bring us to church, so we can see the stations of the cross. This year, the churches closed, and my mom could not afford a day off due to COVID-19. Instead, she used her morning note to remind us to celebrate in our own way: remembering her parents, "grandma and pap," and doing something kind for each other. In keeping with traditional however, we celebrated the end of another week in quarantine with a "Pizza Payday." My mom gets paid on Fridays, so we always have pizza to celebrate. COVID-19 has caused many changes, but I am glad that has stayed the same. #FordhamUniversity #VART3030
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  2020-04-09

  Notes From an Essential Worker Series #2

  The COVID-19 virus disrupts life, particularly our relationships with those we love. But, relationships are flexible and adapt to circumstance. Due to the stress the virus puts on her non-profit organization, my mom must leave earlier for work and cannot see my dad in the morning. So, in addition to leaving notes for my brothers and I, she leaves a few for him. Most of these notes offer him encouragement, as working remotely is a stressful change for most people. Next to her note, she leaves a coffee filter filled with coffee grinds, so he can make his cup of morning joe. Although my mom cannot do these things in person anymore, she still lets my dad know shes there for him. #FordhamUniversity #VART3030
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  2020-04-06

  Notes from an Essential Worker

  #FordhamUniversity #VART3030 The COVID-19 virus disrupts life, particularly our relationships with those we love. But, relationships are flexible and adapt to circumstance. My mom is the Executive Director of a non-profit organization in Nutley, New Jersey. Her organization provides affordable food and psychological services to the greater community, making her an essential worker. Her role requires her to sacrifice a lot of her time at home. So, she can no longer see my brothers and I in the morning to keep us on track. Instead, she leaves notes for us, using notebooks and paper towels. This note is a "to-do" list for the day with some encouragement written in parentheses.