Have you ever been locked up or at least felt like it?
Well, right now everybody knows what it feels like since we all have to be quarantined.
Life in quarantine has been hard, for some of us very hard, but there are some good parts, too.
Some people have learned to overcome some of the bad parts, and some have not.
Some really like it, like me and my family because we have learned to listen and pay more attention to each other. We have also been able to go on long bike rides and runs together. My sister, Jaylin, had her birthday on the 10th and we finally got to see our family and still be able to social distance at the same time. I was so grateful to spend time with my Mimi and Pawpa (Dudley and Betsy Simpson). We have even gotten to go camping in our RV and play fun sports like football, soccer, tennis, and I have been going to basketball practice. I have learned to cook for our family too. Our neighborhood has been bringing in food trucks so families can buy food there and they don’t have to cook at home.
Some of the difficult times are how COVID-19 is really bad where I live in Texas. in the beginning of COVID-19 it was really hard staying at home, there was this one time when I just had enough and sat down and then started to cry. All I wanted to do was to be in my classroom at school to learn. I am sure so many kids felt the same way!
I didn’t want to be at home but I learned to adapt to learning at home. In the beginning I could not hug or see friends or family, especially my cousin Jaida, since she has Type 1 diabetes. The only way I could see them was to stand on the sidewalk and for them to be on the porch. Although COVID-19 has been hard it has a great impact on all our lives and is making us stronger every day.
Recently, before quarantine, I got to have a movie night with my best friends. Since we have been in quarantine I haven’t been able to see them except for Facetime. I get a little teary-eyed because I miss them so much and haven’t been able to see them in person.
Although quarantine has been difficult there have been a few good times and we have learned to work together as a family. We help each other with chores and encourage one another every day. I encourage everyone to find the bright side of being together and working together. We are in this together.
Julie McConnell, a resident of Texas, is the granddaughter of Cordell residents Dudley and Betsy Simpson.