“I do not think we will ever return to normal, but we are trying to live each day guided by hope and gratefulness.”

What are your fears and/or concerns right now?

That my family remains safe and healthy. We’ve started multi-generational living with my mother and mother-in-law (both widows) - multi-cultural too, as our kids are being raised Buddhist and Jewish. My primary concern from the outset of the quarantine is that my mother not get sick. We believe it’s critically important that our entire family quarantine so as not to expose ourselves or others in our community. 

What have you learned from living this new normal?

I do not think we will ever return to normal, but we are trying to live each day guided by hope and gratefulness. We look for the silver linings and see this as a time to recreate and define what it means to live a fulfilling and rewarding life. What is it I want my kids to absorb? Service to others. That we’re all connected. That what I do impacts you and vice versa. That it's ok to be still. To speak up when it matters. We’ve attended BLM protests – which seems inconsistent with our quarantining – but this form of communication is so important to the principles we instill in our children that we do it, with masks and distanced!

What are your thoughts on how the pandemic has brought to the forefront issues of racial and social inequality?

I think it's opened the wounds and forced us to acknowledge that this country is built on White supremacy and colonialism. This is a critical and pivotal moment in time – the greatest protests in terms of engagement and participation since the civil rights movement. BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Color] must band together along with White allies to lift up the most oppressed and marginalized if we are to truly be free and equal under the law – the ideals our country are built upon.

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

Absolutely. There is nothing that has been exposed that wasn't already there, lurking below the surface. We feel alive in a lot more ways. We feel woken up – grateful for having our eyes open and learning the truth. I think greater forces, whatever you believe in, are giving us these signs to save our Earth and become more compassionate beings. I think this is a rebirth in many ways.

Not long after this photo was taken, Laura’s mother, Lucy Le, died unexpectedly on July 27, 2020. As part of their Buddhist faith, the family is honoring her in a 49 day mourning ritual. These photos and story are lovingly dedicated 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.