To borrow from Jonathan Larson’s “Seasons of Love” [RENT, the musical], I wonder how do we measure a month in a life defined by the Coronavirus? I’ve never lived through a pandemic. I’ve been covering HIV and AIDS for almost twenty years, oftentimes through the stories of long-term survivors, but I’ve never lived through the crisis of the early days of that pandemic.

So, how does one really capture the story of a pandemic, while living through the pandemic themselves? Journaling? Documenting each day in thoughts and worries, text and visuals, news updates?

As we’re trying our best to stay safe, many of us are also trying to document our lives during this Coronavirus pandemic. When all is said and done, are we going to have a COVID-19 quilt, a collective story, or a collection of stories of individuals from all over the world? Are we going to have galleries and museums or organize walks and fundraisers to remember those lost to the virus, and raise money for survivors?

There’s a lot to say about all that’s happening right now, relative to the Coronavirus pandemic…thinking about it, I have quite a lot to say, myself…but all in good time, I guess.

For now, I’d like to share a few snapshots capturing life during the Coronavirus pandemic as it unfolds in my own backyard, so to speak–virtually deserted streets, closed-down restaurants and businesses, empty parking lots, and lonely joggers trying to get their run in, for the day:

Then, yesterday, March 30, 2020, a sign of…Comfort? US Navy hospital ship Comfort sails by Lady Liberty and Ellis Island, before reaching NYC.

What’s gonna happen tomorrow or in the days to come? Who knows….

So, how do you keep track of this pandemic, if at all? Do you document it in any way? Feel free to share.

I hope you are all right, and that you stay safe and healthy.

And, as always, thanks for stopping by.

Alina Oswald