I think I am a writer and a student of history. The other day in the mist of our self-quarantine, my 76 year old mother asked me if I was recording my experiences during this once in a lifetime pandemic (hopefully once in a lifetime). I hadn’t been actively doing it but she got me thinking about people’s stories. It was then I decided to collect as many of them as people would send me. I am most interested in the secular perspective and so that is the common thread I would like see.
Long after moments in history, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, recede into the ether of historical memories, people will want to know about how those who lived at that time experienced the event. The secular experience probably won’t be much different than a majority of the world population but the goal of The Secular COVIDStories Project is to collect and save for posterity the secular perspective on this tumultuous time in history.
What is your story? Share it with other secular people and the world.
Feel free to express yourself in words about your experiences during the pandemic. You can submit stories using the form at the link below or email them to covidstories {[AT]} dougberger.net
I will be collecting stories for the duration of the public health emergency so feel free to submit more than one story.
Here is my story, written this week:
I am middle age and the median age of the people who have died from complications of COVID-19. So I am scared. I haven’t left my house in at least a week and I’m too afraid to go to the store.
I don’t have any major health issues but I am susceptible to some leg infections and have spent time in the hospital for them.
I believe in medical science so when they say they have no cure or treatment for the virus I am scared to get it. I don’t want to be on a ventilator. I’ve had a Pulmonary Embolism so I know what it is like to have extreme trouble breathing and I am scared now.
Some people think the media is hyping the danger but all the thousands of dead bodies around the world tell the truth… and I am scared.
I get my flu shot each year and wiped down shopping carts before the pandemic. I’ve never washed my hands as much as I have the past few weeks. I’m scared.
I try to keep my fears out of my head and not think of them constantly but it is hard. Luckily I am not alone at home but I feel for people who are. At least I can get some distraction when I need it.
This pandemic seems to be dragging on but I know it will end. I just hope I make it out the other side alive and well.
I’m scared.
