By now the reality has set in. We are at home (or not able to be in our homes) for what looks like a long time. I write to you today from my kitchen of what has been my home in Brooklyn for the past four years. My home that is apparently in the heart of the epicenter of this crisis. Granted I am one of the lucky ones. My moms car is conveniently parked across the street for a quick getaway upstate, I have enough food and toilet paper for the near future and there are stores just blocks away. But still I am scared.
I am scared to leave NYC or scared to stay. I am scared for the safety of my family, friends and city. I am scared I will get sick or more that I will get someone else sick. I am scared that I will not be able to rebuild financially after this crisis. I am scared I will never be hugged again and that everyone I love will be forever 6 feet or further away from me (I know it sounds dramatic but love in the time of corona virus seems improbable). And frankly I have never been so afraid of my own hands (Just reading this over I touched my face, damn).
What do we do with this fear and how do we acknowledge it but still be able to function with some kind of normalcy? Many of us have a lot of work to do (on top of suddenly becoming first grade teachers) and some of us need to time to figure out what work we can do now.
I find myself needing an escape but then also not connecting with the shows, podcasts and books that seem to have no idea it is happening. Like really guys, not even one mention? Clearly I need to talk about it and I do not think I am alone.
This week I want to offer three virtual gatherings to talk about our Fear at this time.
One theme, three times to chat.
Tea & Talk: An afternoon tea break to talk to other humans besides your work peeps (yes coffee is allowed)
Cocktails & Conversation: Not your average Happy Hour. A chance to meet people from around the country and listen and connect over your favorite cocktail (No booze required)
Dinner & Dialogue: Pull up a virtual seat at the table! Please come to the dinner with a dish that perhaps you have been afraid to eat or make in the past or that has been helping to soothe your families fears during this time (Read here about food and fear from last year).