When the history books are written, March 2020 will not be remembered fondly. It is when the coronavirus spread day-by-day in the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, two people tested positive for COVID-19 on March 6. As of yesterday, less than three weeks later — there are almost 1,700 cases and 16 people have died.
In those three weeks, Gov. Tom Wolf has declared a disaster emergency, ordered non-life-sustaining businesses to close and encouraged Pennsylvanians to stay home and maintain social distancing as ways to limit spread of the illness.
Often, the scene at grocery stores has been reminiscent of an impending winter storm — only this time it’s not just bread and milk everyone is after — it’s toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
In what has become a bit of a rallying cry, we hear: “We’re all in this together.”
Many have taken that to heart and shown compassion and kindness and have reached out to help their neighbors. With children home from closed schools, families are closer and have tried to find ways to enjoy themselves or pass the time.
On Friday’s Smart Talk, we want to hear your stories — especially the positive ones. How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? Share your stories by calling 1-800-729-7532 or sending an email to smarttalk@witf.org.
Roger Baumgarten, owner of Roger That Photography, is participating in The Front Steps Project — a concept launched by a Boston-area photographer — to capture socially distanced family portraits. He joins us to talk about the project.
Your stories
As a flower farmer this has been a very concerning time. But the positive is, the seed and flowers don’t know that. They just keep growing! Its a helpful reminder that there will be a time after this is all over, and there will be flowers, because I’m planting them! As they say, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” — Longbourn Blooms
Going to the grocery store and seeing joyful celebration of things we normally just take for granted like finding a bag of flour on the shelf or a box of tissues. Everyone seems to be noticing all the positives and just dealing with the hard parts. It’s almost a party atmosphere. — Ginny Bishop
As a retired teacher I have been able to teach my 7 year old granddaughter on facetime while her parents work from home. Special moments! — Ronni Wolkow Cook
I live with my 83 year old father who is English and as a child survived the blitz.. he has been sheltering in place and is working on a puzzle of Spitfire that I got him.. last Saturday we watched a documentary about spitfires and the female pilots who delivered them during the war.. as we are watching he casually says that when he was a kid they use to save their pennies for a spitfire.. I was confused and thought he meant a toy.. he clarified and said No.. as part of the war effort towns saves their pennies/ change and purchased spitfires … the towns name would then be painted on the plane .. I asked him if his town saved enough to buys a plane and he said yes.. several… about this time the documentary is interviewing the one of the female pilots who is being reunited with the last spitfire she flew and the closeup included the name of the town that had paid for it .. the documentary didn’t call that detail out but my dad noticed and did point it out .. I’m 51.. and i have heard a lot of his stories, I have never heard this story.. had we not been sharing this moment.. I most likely never would have … I’m so grateful for this experience… — Lulu Bisney
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