We are not meant to live in isolation. What makes us healthy and whole are the connections we form with one another. With our families. Our friends. Our colleagues and our community… The thing we need the most to feel healthy has become harder to get.
After more than 30 years in the field of social work, I know one thing to be true. We do not need to be victims to our situation. We have choices to make, each and every day about how we want to live our lives. How we choose to show up for ourselves and each other.
One of the hardest things about this time for me has been the loss of travel, the opportunity to explore. If you know me, you know I love to travel. Give me a passport and a seat on a plane or in a car and I’m on my way, ready for what comes next. I thought it might be fun to travel, however virtually, around the US and yes, even abroad, to visit with people and hear how they’re doing during this difficult time. Over the next few weeks I’d like to bring you a glimpse of what life is like for our friends and neighbors in other places.
Today we travel to Tampa, Florida to meet Benny.
Welcome Benny. How are things in Tampa? As this COVID19 pandemic has spread rapidly throughout the world, it has affected many countries and areas within, some worse than others, and people’s lives have been changed while others lost theirs. Here in Hillsborough County, where I live, we have been in lockdown for some time and many places and business have been closed while others try to stay afloat. Many people have lost their jobs while others are able to work from home.
Florida has an older population. Some of the hardest hit people have been those that live and work as orderlies in many of the country’s nursing homes. The nursing homes have instituted strict measures, not allowing visitors which has been very difficult for the people who live there. I have an 82 year old mother. I’ve been fortunate that she is healthy enough to still live at home by herself. I make sure to bring her what she needs so she doesn’t have to go anywhere and risk being infected.
How has the pandemic affected your work or home life? I work alone in my woodworking shop. I have been lucky enough to stay working building kitchen and bath cabinets, I’ve been fortunate. Construction has seemed to not be affected in this area and I picked up plenty of work. My wife and one of my daughters have been able to work from home as well.
My other daughter’s company is temporarily closed. While her main job has also been temporarily closed, she stays busy selling Herbalife products. My oldest granddaughter has had to continue her education from home since the aviation academy she was attending In Daytona beach, the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University sent all the students home. My son has been able to stay working as he works in construction although he worries every day about not bringing home the virus to his wife and four children.
Has anyone you know been infected by the virus? Luckily, none of our family members or close friends have been infected with the exception of one of my best friend’s brother. He works as a doctor living in Atlanta, GA, and was infected with the virus while working on the frontlines. He was fortunate to surpass the virus and now he’s back on the frontlines again.
You’re originally from Cuba. What do you know about how things are there? My relatives in Cuba are struggling. They have been ordered to stay home by the government and are having a hard time trying to find food and sanitizing products.
What have you appreciated during this time? My wife and I are avid movie goers and we miss not being able to go see a new movie or to go out to eat dinner at a restaurant. At the same time, you began to appreciate many things you had taken for granted thinking they will always be there, like being able to spend a day at the beach, have a picnic at a park, or take a road trip. Like many people, we’ve been watching Netflix and catching up on movies. Fortunately the weather has been good. I have been getting a workout in the yard, planting and arranging things in the backyard.
As we begin to open up again, my biggest concern is that we don’t start thinking that this pandemic is getting better and don’t protect themselves. We must keep wearing the mask and continue practicing social distancing. We still have a long way to go.
Thank you Benny for inspiring us today.
Let’s broaden the conversation, shall we? Would you like to be featured in our guest interview posts? We want to hear from you! Email me at suzanne@suzannemaggio.com.
