Corona Diaries – 5 Years Later

It’s a bit surreal that the pandemic has changed our world and is now five years in the past. I feel we just got through it – probably because I had Covid for the first time just last year – and at the same time it feels so far way. I wasn’t going to reminisce about this but I see all the posts popping up left and right (Daria started it and then many followed). But I have – for the sake of historical documentation – started the Corona Diaries series back when it all happened and have continued a check in until the three years and eight months mark. So it is only fitting I do a 5 years check in too. And for the fun of it I asked the husband to answer the questions in one sentence as well.

What do you remember most?

The thing I remember the most as being annoying was all the cooking. I hated it. When I usually only had to cook the weekends since the husband had lunch at work and I could eat whatever I liked I suddenly had to cook seven days and things we both ate. Which is almost impossible because the husband eats like 5 dishes (majorly over-exaggerated but that is what it felt like). Hence my category what we ate in the corona dairies posts.

Overall I did not struggle as much with this as most people. I remember I liked being home with the husband. We had suddenly so much more time together. We didn’t fight more (we still fought but no increase).

I did the necessary shopping and therefore was able to walk outside for 100 meters (that is how far the store was). The husband didn’t leave the apartment for 60 days or so?

Husband: needing toilet paper, staying home. And the news snippet from the Italian village where the police walked through with megaphones. The real world felt like the movie 28 days later.

What led up to here?

We were traveling mid February to Oslo for our anniversary trip. In the airport we saw all this signs with bio hazard pictograms and masks and we were making a little fun of people being scared.

On Wednesday, March 11th I had a meeting with a client which involved a train ride. I remember being a bit hesitant touching the doors and handles. And I had pulled up my scarf when being too close to people. During lunch we met the colleagues wife on the street and she opted not to shake hands. I remember calling the husband and telling him to go shopping after work and stock up on a few things.

Also the husband felt a bit weird and had himself tested for Covid on Thursday March 12 since he had a Chinese client and he visited a trade fair a few days earlier. I remember when he was at the docs I went to the grocery store stocking up a bit since it was unclear if we would be quarantined – which we were until Saturday when test results came back negative.

I am not entirely sure but I think by Friday the husband had already decided to have everyone work from home before it became mandatory the following week. We were a bit ahead in anticipating that this was a bigger issue. I remember that weekend I also bought a lot of stuff and schleppt it home.

Husband: a „lab accident“ in China.

Beginning of April I was sewing masks and sending them to friends and family.
Some people thanked me by sending me a book from my wishlist.

Who went through this with you?

The husband. And I. It was our little bubble. My sister had just broken up with her boyfriend and moved back in with my parents. I think it was hard and at the same time the best that happened otherwise she would have been alone. And I had someone close to see how my parents were doing.

My dad was traveling a lot back then and shortly before lockdown he came back from Africa. His colleague had a “cold” and I am pretty sure it was Covid. Luckily my dad never caught it back then.

My sister and her family as pastors had a bit different situation. They were much more impacted in being available and trying to provide support and guidance and at the same time having a first class kid and all that came with it.

Husband: my wife.

Where did you go through this event?

We were in our apartment in the middle of the city. Luckily we had both a home office and could work without any restrictions. The kitchen and the living room were separate. The only issue was that I was not able to use the balcony as it was only accessible through the husbands home office. That was a bit annoying at times.

However, our apartment was at the access road to the near by hospital and with ongoing lockdowns and with summer coming up it was so so annoying having all the sirens go by. One day I decided to count the number of ambulances turning on the horn – I stopped at 11 am with 37. I was going insane. Every video call needed to stop because I couldn’t understand anything. Also when looking out of the windows I didn’t see (much of) the sky. Streets were narrow and I only saw houses.

Husband: My apartment in Berlin.

The view from our apartment – mainly house walls. Please excuse the dirty windows.

How did you feel then?

At first I felt a bit adventurous. There was a novelty about the whole situation. I knew history was happening. But that wore off after a couple of month. I had a hard time not seeing and hugging my parents. I think I secretly hugged my mom for the first time in December when I dropped of Christmas presents. That was so so hard for me. I am a hugger.

I also felt somewhat caged. Not necessarily because needing to stay in my apartment. I felt caged in form of not seeing the horizon. As I mentioned the look out my windows was blocked with apartment buildings. When I traveled to the country home in summer I remember my heart burst when I came around a certain bend on the autobahn and I could suddenly see the horizon. That was a turning point for me somewhat. I didn’t know how much I missed that.

Husband: a bit worried but not frightened and unsure. I knew the world would move on but how.

What changed in your world?

From the business perspective the pandemic was a real win for me. For one suddenly everyone understood the importance of online marketing and social media. When I was at first scared of not making any money it had the opposite effect for me. Also pre-pandemic a lot of clients insisted on me being at their offices at least two or three days per week. Today working remote is not an issue or something I would need to argue.

I remember pre-pandemic I was supposed to go to Frankfurt (about 4 hour one way) for a 30 minute meeting. I told them that I would like to do that over the phone or via Skype call since it wasn’t being reimbursed and would take a whole day. They were not down to it so I told them I am no longer interested in the project. They were a bit mad at me for it. This is unthinkable today, right?

On a private note we realized during the pandemic that we had outgrown our apartment. Well not really the apartment but the location of the apartment. The husband had continually mentioned prior he was looking at other places and I just refused to take a look at them. But I was ready now and the thought formed that we will be moving if we find our new dream home for the next 15 years.

Husband: sanitizer everywhere. My wife brought in a huge jug* and decided to use it every time we came home. Appreciation of long walks and excursions to the water and woods.
*this was actually sitting in the cupboard for years. I used to work at a sanitary whole sale company supplying hospitals and we got samples all the time.

What changed in YOU?

I started my Corona hobby of getting into plants. During my walks on the cemetery I started looking closer what I passed. I had an app and snapped about everything I came across and started to identify the plants and herbs. And I started to gather stuff for my tea. It gave me some sort of sanity and was healing walking the places over and over again without seeing anything new. I had new appreciation for my surroundings.

I also became more confident being in front of a camera. I hated video calls prior to to the pandemic. When someone requested a call I was nervous all day. Dressed nice, put make up and effort into my appearance and then tried to find the perfect spot for the laptop so the background looked nice. No such things today. I go on camera without any make up or mascara. I don’t do my hair and spent no mind what is in the background or if the camera angle is flattering.

Husband: I gained a lot of weight. More resilience. I lived through a movie kinda doomsday scenario and know I can handle it now.

How do you feel about the pandemic NOW?

I still feel we have one through an historic event. Something that shaped the entire world and everyone has the same experience but different. And I also believe it won’t be the last pandemic in my life time.

Looking back I have been very lucky to go throw this without any major harm. I was able to stomach lockdowns easily. Or much more easily than many others. I was not stressed much because I didn’t have kids. And I have never been more appreciative to have none. I am beyond grateful that none of my loved ones or really anyone I know was fatally ill. A scare though when my nephew was hospitalized due to some heart condition after an infections but all is good now.

Husband: still the same. How would feel about a world event I can’t influence.

I know I have a very different experience with Covid than most people did. Was there something that surprised you? Would you have wanted to switch places with me? Did you realize a change in the way you work?