The result of a pandemic— how missing her family and selling a home have changed a life during unknown times
In this edited interview, Judy Derra, 63, from Franksville, WI, talks about her life after living in the Coronavirus pandemic for one year.
by Riley Schroeder
March 17, 2021
“Overall my life has changed a lot, but from nothing that was exactly due to the pandemic.
I took a new job that is right away working from home, and we will be working from home for a long time. This has pretty much been the biggest change for me, besides not seeing my grandkids as much. The biggest difference is that [I] didn’t get the chance to hug [my] grandkids. A lot of it was on phone calls, but you miss some of the personal interactions.
I did sell my house back in August. Every time that we had somebody come to see the house, I had to make sure they had booties available plus masks and gloves. But because I did not have any type of a camera inside the house, I wasn’t totally aware of whether or not they were touching anything. So I had to go back in and disinfect everything.
I moved to Franksville, WI. They’re pretty much following along the same guidelines, but some of the people up here do not adhere to the guidelines as much. But now that everything’s kinda opening up a little bit more, it’s a whole different ball game.
My biggest fear is the unknown about Covid and how it impacts people. The one thing that is not as easily communicated here is how to get the vaccine. I know that I’m not in the right age bracket yet, so I hope I’ll hear more information soon.”
Written for Introduction to Journalism class at Columbia College Chicago.