“Some will find greater faith and put their lives in clearer perspective.”

What are your fears and/or concerns right now?

Giving birth at the hospital. I’m nervous of getting in contact with someone with COVID-19 and either being compromised, or my wife and newborn – both are extremely fragile. I also worry about the hospitals’ quality of care because of too many patients and the doctors being overworked and stressed.

What have you learned from living this new normal?

Carpentry! Ever since I bought my first house, I’ve dabbled in general DIY. I’ve done everything from floor tile, exterior house painting, plumbing, decks, to now, a room addition. I consider my sanity pretty important. I have to have projects to work on or I go crazy and am not my best for my family. I call this my corona project. I would not have started it unless there was a pandemic. Hence, I’m not even sure what the room will be used for. It could be a sitting room, workout room, dining area… or my mother-in-law jokingly mentioned she could move in.

Do you think anything positive will come from all of this?

This destructive virus is horrible. People are dying, losing jobs, losing retirement, and losing business. However, some will find greater faith and put their lives in clearer perspective. A friend that was headed for divorce has taken the time to talk things through. It seems the earth has taken a moment to breath. We’ve seen firsthand how destructive our careless presence is on the planet. For us personally, it’s allowed my wife to work from home, to give her a bit more comfort for her last month of pregnancy. I’ve spent more time with her and my son which I have treasured.

READ THE STORIES

Click on any of the images below to learn more about what's on the minds of fellow Richmonders. From the pandemic to protests, our community has traveled through months of uncertainty, introspection and reflection. Sharing stories gives us an opportunity to learn, connect and grow with one another in the hopes of cultivating a more compassionate, open-minded and empathetic city to live in.