The Semester of Living Dangerously
A Pandemic Diary Project for Housebound Students, Faculty and Staff of SUNY Oneonta
Some dogs wear bandanas and make it look good. These dogs are born to it — endowed with a confident, frisky, cool spirit that finds expression jauntily wearing a bandana. Cosima is a bandana dog.
With recent advice encouraging the wearing of face masks in public, Cosima’s bandana wardrobe is being repurposed. Thank you, Cosima, for your sweetness and love, and thank you for the face masks.
It’s a bright, chilly early spring day. It’s April 1. A day to celebrate tricks and pranks. I’m outwitted and deceived and it’s OK. It’s fun to be fooled, sometimes. On the other side of midnight is April 2. Today moves into tomorrow.
What is on the other side of the pandemic? I’m hopeful and worried about what the answer includes.
I wash my hands for myself and for everyone around me. I wash them thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. Careful, precise actions are impactful. My hands are so dry and so clean. I think I remember my last handshake.
When we teleconference I wonder about the rooms of my colleagues. Are their rooms warm or cool? Do they smell like fresh brewed coffee? Are my colleagues alone in their rooms, or are others with them out of frame?
