“The next time a scientist tells us to wake up, I hope we listen to her.”

What are your fears and/or concerns right now?

Our original health concerns for the elderly and immuno-compromised are now extended to everyone. Keeping our kids active, socialized and learning is a big concern. The larger economic impact, the fall presidential election, the world’s mental health – I can’t think of an area that we’re not concerned about, unfortunately.

What have you learned from living this new normal?

We have seen surprising generosity and kindness so far. I hope that continues, and even increases, as people become more stressed mentally and financially. We have certainly learned a lot about each other as a family – how each of us likes to work, what kind of space we need, what de-stresses each of us best.

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

We hope there is a new respect for the importance of science. We take so much for granted in terms of our technology, medicine and environment, that we no longer respect how we got them and what they cost. We also tune out any science that points out our greed, selfishness and destruction. The next time a scientist tells us to wake up, I hope we listen to her.

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.