Mary. From Vernon Hills.

I moved to Chicago in the summer of 2018, and had only been working part-time for over a year and a half. I finally started a full-time job on March 12. On March 13, we were told to start working from home. That same day, my daughter's best friend was killed in a car accident. By the 15th of March, we decided to go back to New Jersey for the service. We were there for a week, and then had to quarantine for two weeks when we got back. That meant staying at my daughter's apartment and being away from my boyfriend and dog, with whom I live in the suburbs. I'm back now, but still go back to my daughter's apartment every weekend so she's not totally alone. During the week, I focus on my work and she focuses on her online college classes. On the weekends we binge-watch something on Netflix, Hulu or Disney+.

WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION TO KEEP GOING?
I guess hope is my inspiration. Relevant to the experiences of healthcare workers, first responders, grocery-store employees — all the essential people and obviously those who are sick, or who have lost loved ones — my experience is easy. I am hopeful that this will end. That maybe we come out of it as better humans. I also started writing a blog in 2016 about 15 months after my husband died by suicide, which continues to be an outlet for me to express my feelings. I write every week about my experiences dealing with this.

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR AT THIS MOMENT?
I am grateful for my health and that of my loved ones. I'm grateful for roofs over our heads and income. I am grateful for technology that keeps in touch with the people I care about, and I am grateful to be a runner because it's helping my physical and mental health.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THINGS GET “BACK TO NORMAL?”
First, I really hope things don't get ‘back to normal’ because prior to this we normalized so much that is bad. Like I said, my hope is that we emerge from this as better humans. Aside from that, when we are no longer in lockdown, I'm looking forward to running races again, running on the lakefront trail with my running friends, going to the ballet with my boyfriend and to the beach with my daughter, as well as eating at a restaurant with anyone. :)

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Marianna. From Chicago.

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Michael. The restaurateur.