People of Rochester - Kelly
Kelly is family, and when she learned that I was looking for people to share their pandemic experiences, she volunteered to participate. Thanks, Kelly!
She hasn’t been completely quarantined, because she's a manager in her company, and even though the location where she works hasn’t been open for business as usual, she goes in to the office, regularly. On a typical day, Kelly says she wakes up, works out, walks her beloved dog, Onyx, and goes to work. She might run to Wegmans during her lunch hour and pick up a few things. After she comes home from work, Kelly makes dinner and walks Onyx again.
When I asked what she does for recreation, Kelly said working out is her recreation. Kelly's an athletic person, and her daily morning workout usually consists of a 10-mile run or a 35-mile bicycle ride.
I asked what she's missed during the lockdown. She immediately laughed and said, "Getting my hair and nails done!" But she also misses socializing with her friends on weekends. Kelly said she never went out much during the week anyway, but on weekends she likes to get together with friends and sometimes family.
The day we chatted, she said she was looking forward to a get-together next weekend with a few girlfriends on the deck that overlooks her back yard. She won't be wearing a mask, she said, and she doubts her friends will wear masks, but she was confident that they'll maintain social distancing.
She's not yet comfortable meeting up with friends in restaurants or bars. When the pandemic is over, to the point that it's safe to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a restaurant, then she can see returning to that lifestyle. But until then, she will be cautious.
She's not happy to see large groups of people together not wearing masks or social distancing. She thinks it's irresponsible and risky.
When I asked her if she's seen any benefits to the lockdown, like others I've spoken to, Kelly appreciates that the quarantine has forced her to slow down a bit. She said it's led her to a simpler way of life.