722 N. 145th St. | Shoreline, WA 98133

Pandemic Challenges

At our September 26 worship service, Father David asked parishioners to answer this question (anonymously).

The pandemic has been hard on all of us. Can you share the story of a challenge you’ve experienced?

As mentioned in David’s weekly message, here are more responses:

Funerals were not held. We are only now holding services for people who died in 2020.

I wasn’t able to visit my parents for over a year.

Constant social isolation doesn’t make for much of a story, but it was certainly a challenge.

The loss of my dear wife at the beginning of the pandemic and the loss of my stepson in June. Now leaning on my Lord to sustain me through this very difficult time.

Moving to a new location and trying to meet with friends to combat loneliness. Also being  unable to see family. But with patience and gratitude to scientists, vaccines overcame all of this and freed us. Thanks to God.

I got COVID in late January and was in the hospital and rehab for 6 weeks. I had to give up my beloved dog. But I am grateful that he has gone to a good home. I am still sad, and miss him so much.

The biggest challenge has been the feeling of helplessness, of not being able to get together and physically help the people around me.

I lost my job and became really isolated. This made me depressed and sad all the time. My good friend’s son committed suicide as age 25. He left behind 3 small children. The grief of his mother and father is heartbreaking.

The loss of group oriented activities, notably playing and singing music. Dealing with an adult child who refuses to be vaccinated.

At the height of the first surge, not being able to see a dear friend at Ida Culver.

I survived the isolation.

Not a challenge as such. I reunited with a classmate, which led to marriage and made the pandemic bearable and comforting. We both give thanks for bringing us together.

Being unable to visit family when in hospital, and unable to help friends and family who are ill.

Not being able to get together with my entire family during the holidays. Not being able to go to church in person.

Our 46-year-old daughter and mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and is disabled.

My cat ran away.

Isolation from healthcare coworkers who are dealing with lives ending in their families and work. We have not been as able to connect as easily electronically to fill that gap.

Closing of restaurants, bus stops, visiting of loved ones!

Being separated from people. It has been both joy and sorrow.

Increased awareness of the well being of our family.

I watched a neighbor falling more into dementia, screaming at her reflection in the kitchen window. God heard prayers for her and her caretaking daughter. We have a better history and she accepts me. Hospice has come.

Unable to see new baby in family, but blessed with the knowledge she is healthy and beautiful.

My father died alone in hospital. We could not be with him in his final moments.

A retired co-worker, who was 20 years younger than I am died last week in S.C. She was a lovely, happy woman. We are all shocked and saddened.

Loss of music—playing in musical groups, going to concerts, taking piano lessons in person.

As a bachelor, I was not sure what I was going to do with myself for the quarantine. I started Zoom Morning Prayer and Compline for human interaction and new keep attending them.

Trying to maintain a respectful working relationship with my unvaxxed boss. Trying to spend time with my mom while protecting her from the virus. Mostly, we have been lucky.

Physical separation from this congregation.

Separation from close friends.

I was unable to meet my clients fact to face for our annual meeting. We had to find other ways of passing information, especially difficult for those that no longer drove.

Missed friends. Did a lot of telephone calls. Did jigsaw puzzles. Being confined to home—refinished old captain’s chair. Cancelled trip to relatives because they were not vaccinated.

Mom fell and spent weeks in the hospital. No one was able to visit except when an exception was made for Dad. To be able to see her briefly. The separation of loved ones is very hard.

I missed two birthday parties.

Learning Zoom. Being away from religious services. Loss of community. So much death. No funerals, no weddings.

Both my daughter and my son-in-law had Covid. I could not touch or be touched by them for over a year. Both daughters have long-term health damage.

I felt useless, unable or not allowed to be helpful to the people I know and love. I felt that I lost my identity.

Blessed with family at home, but otherwise months of social isolation from friends while working alone from home for much longer hours than pre-covid. Exhausting on all levels.

Parenting kids who didn’t attend school for over a year was challenging and now they are back, which is great, but we are also confronted with what was missed during that time, and it startles me and catches me by surprise sometimes.