An Open Letter to
Covid-19
Thank You for locking me up!
Dear Covid-19,
I just wanted to drop you a quick letter thanking you for the mandatory quarantine you caused, earlier in the year. While most college students are grumbling about freedoms lost, I gained a new perspective on what it means to be a family. I just want to thank you for the important values you reminded me of, while locked down, in my home sweet home.
Thank you for forcing me to remain under the same roof as my three brothers, my older twin sisters, my two lovely parents, and let’s not forget my two lazy wiener dogs, Max and Ruby! Family time is something our family had gotten away from throughout the past few years, it was a gradual separation; thank you Covid-19, for forcing us back together. Party time at Manny’s or a house near Akron U, was replaced with game night; thank you for bringing back the shared laughter of a close family. While laughter was sometimes joined with family disagreements; thank you Covid-19, for reminding me how good it feels to win a fight with my older brother. My youngest brother has a habit of passing out annoying bear hugs every half hour; thank you for reminding me how good it feels to be lovingly admired, with warm little squeezes. I have always looked up to my two older sisters, yet activities and functions had us spending very little quality time together; thank you for reminding me how important it is to have, not one, but two beautiful influences in my life. My mom and dad had become nagging and annoying, always questioning my busy college social life; thank you for reminding me how much they care and truly are interested in my life plans. Max and Ruby are my black and red wiener dogs; thank you, Covid-19, for reminding me how good it feels to snuggle up close to their warm furry bodies, while going to sleep at a decent hour, in my warm safe bed.
While my family was forced to reunite with one another, I was forced to adjust to some new daily habits. My normal dining choices usually consist of Chipotle, Dunkin’, or Taco Bell; thank you for reminding me how good it tastes to eat one of my mother’s home-cooked meals. Running to the nail salon, was replaced by my mom as my new private manicurist; I was very grateful for the you tube videos and online instruction. During the lock down, choosing the perfect outfit was no longer an issue, however, I thank you for introducing me to online shopping; Amazon, Shein, and Zaful are now my new best friends! When the University switched to online learning, my laptop also became one of my best friends. I thank you Covid-19 for quarantine with family; my mom became my best friend and tutor!
My mom was not only a tutor, she was my Netflix partner in crime. She joined me for binge watching: Little Fires Everywhere, Dead to Me, and Big Little Lies (season 1 AND season 2)! Thank you Covid-19 for entertaining me daily, while stuck inside. While I saved some money from movie theater popcorn and chips, Hulu and Disney Plus quickly took their place. Entertainment during the pandemic took on various forms, including Beach Body on Demand; thank you Covid-19 for getting me that nice summer bod!
As the pandemic took a turn for the worse, my sisters and I became the entire staff at my dad’s restaurant down the road; thank you Covid-19 for filling my bank account with cash! Customers came to the restaurant tipping more than they should; thank you Covid-19 for the kindness and generosity I was shown during this time.
While the lockdown changed many things in my life, I was the most grateful for the concept of family being reintroduced to my life; thank you Covid-19, for giving me this wonderful gift!
Yours truly,
Kortlin
