“Going from zero on Friday the 13th to 32 on Tuesday was terrifying, seeing some towns and cities not doing anything was frustrating. My City of Biddeford seemed more worried about trash pick up and bills, and keeping people out of city hall. There were no plans for a curfew on St. Patrick’s Day. All bars, restaurants were open. I got an e-mail from the laundromat next door that might be closing. This was scary. When I posted it on Facebook I was told to dig deeper in my closet. I HAVE to do clothes once a week to have anything to wear. I mostly wear the jeans and good shirt 100% all the time. I don’t even have a closet! I live SSDI. I’m disabled. This lack of income worried my most during all of this.”

“It became even scarier. I have older family members, including my 90 year old grandmother, who lives with me, who would be very susceptible to the virus if she catches it. It was also hard when my sister’s area started getting the virus because I would really like to see her, but for the safety of my grandmother, we’re not visiting each other.”

“I immediately felt compelled to stay inside, except to walk my dog for exercise and fresh air. I pray continually for protection for my loved ones, my family, friends, my church family, my neighbors and the entire world. I am checking in on everyone constantly and trying to share uplifting photos and words of encouragement.”

“I am maintaining a daily diary on my own lap top.”

“I want to write here that I saw at first a horrible silent lack of civility among Mainers in the very beginning as if a frown to a stranger would ward off the disease. I saw people frowning at each other in the grocery store, driving, and just in general. After Cuomo called for an increase in what he called “humanity” people have seemed to make a real effort to be cordial to one another. I feel this is extremely important. We need to know that people are good around us not that we are surrounded by hateful fearful people –even if we are all a little afraid. A smile goes a very long way during times like this. I am also very worried bout the lack of leadership at the national level. Thank goodness our Governor Mills has been on top of the situation. People need concrete advice and some idea of what the overall plans are for all of us as a nation.”

“I live in the LA area, and once there were reported cases here, we really became more conscious of our contact with people. One thing I’ve noticed about our neighborhood is that, despite social distancing guidelines, we’ve said hello to neighbors more often, waved hello or smiled at strangers passing on the road, and have generally had a more pleasant experience with other people than normal. It’s almost like a collective decision to make our days brighter however we can. Pretty cool. LA can seem like a crowded, unfriendly place a lot, but it’s been really interesting to see us all when we’re pared down to our humanity. We even had a apartment complex “dance party” on our respective balconies. In the three years I’ve lived in this complex, I’ve never seen more than a couple of neighbors as we pass each other in the parking garage. It was neat. I do get nervous now that it’s so widespread that it’s in Maine, near where my family and parents live. While I can be accountable for my own health here, I have a distinct feeling of dread that they are all so far away and there’s nothing I can do to see them right now, or make sure that they’re all right. That part makes me very sad, and every day I am nervous that I will get a bad news phone call.”

“It made me never want to leave the house. (Except for my daily walks of course!)”