While I know my personal experience doesn ’ t compare to the trauma of first responders and others who experienced this crisis acutely , I also don ’ t want to erase it entirely . COVID was a terrifying challenge we were all handed without much warning or chance to prepare . And each of us , in our own way , had to figure out how to survive in a radically disrupted world . This involved high-stakes improvisation in almost every realm of our lives .
During this time of terrifying headlines and eerily abandoned streets , we needed distractions as much as we needed food or sleep . I ’ ve spoken with friends about some of the unusual hobbies they picked up . One , a fifty-something college professor , adopted a puppy and started playing the PlayStation game Grand Theft Auto . Another , who wasn ’ t much of a television person before COVID , became a fan of the PBS show , “ Finding Your Roots .” To my eyes , these aren ’ t just quirky quarantine activities ; they ’ re psychological survival strategies . They were the things that helped to keep our humanity intact , and they deserve credit as such . That ’ s what cooking was for me .
As we begin to emerge on the other side of this catastrophe , the future remains opaque and somewhat ominous . But , whatever happens , I ’ m quite certain it will involve sharing our stories about this time of fear and isolation and loss . Some stories will be big in scope ; others , like mine , will be small . Each will be essential to our collective healing and the thawing-out of our long-dormant social skills .
My hope is that we can do this talking indoors , without masks and around food . And when that day comes , I hereby volunteer to make tuna melts . �
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RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY 2021 117