THE accessory of the year: a breathable, wearable face mask. This is the “Happy Camper,” handmade by our friend and artist Camille Engel. (Camille-Engel.com > Shop)
As I write this, we are two months into the Mayor-mandated safer-at-home order in Nashville. I am not a medical professional and offer no medical counsel. I simply want to document my own experience for future readers. COVID-19 and the coresponding pandemic is disrupting the world. Here’s how it’s impacting us.
Our Family
We currently have three teenagers in our house: 18, 15, and 13. We’ve lost Boy Scout events, dance recitals, and college campus tours. We miss seing our friends. Overalll, the kids have done remarkably well sharing the house, television, and the Internet. They have been respectful and patient with each other. Art class, ballet, and church youth group have all converted to online imitations. I’m very grateful for the technology, but it’s not the same. I have one teenager who is so camera-averse, they choose not to participate. On the positive side, I have enjoyed being with my wife and children more often. Our meals have been better and we’ve had regular fun game nights.
Extended Family
The pandemic coincides with both my mother and father-in-law having major back surgeries. They were scheduled one day apart, but my mother’s was canceled because of the outbreak. My father-in-law was one of the last before the hospitals closed to elective procedures in order to treat the flood of COVID-19 patients. Back surgery is no joke and my sweet mother-in-law has born the brunt of caring for my wife’s father. It’s been difficult for Lara to stay away from them and not give her mother more relief, but we do regularly deliver groceries and medical supplies to them.
It was frustrating for my parents when my mother’s surgery was canceled. The truth is, it had already been rescheduled once. Her mobility has decreased since Christmastime. Surgery is what you choose to do when you can’t stand the alternative and to steel yourself for the necessity of it only to be told it’s not necessary at this time and “we’ll try again later” is an emotional roller coaster. She finally had her surgery on May 12th. It was successful, but she now starts a long road to recovery. We’ve been running errands for them too, but are concerned about my 79-year old father who is convinced that whatever he wants to do should be deemed “essential” and is easily persuaded that the social distancing measures are politically motivated and are optional for him.
Our Home
Very recently both our water heater and HVAC system decided that this would be a good time to die on us [eye roll]. The truth is, they’ve been running on borrowed time. Fortunately, we’ve received some gifts to put toward these purchases. Our annual tax refund and stimulus money from the CARES Act will go toward the balance.
My Work
Like more than 15% of working Americans, my work has taken a hit by the pandemic. Proving how and by how much is impossible. Film and television production has shut down, which means that there are no acting jobs to be had. But I didn’t have any booked, so I can only claim the opportunity cost of work that I may or may not have had were it not for COVID19.
Recording audiobooks just as the pandemic hit Nashville
Fortunately, I had just finished recording three audiobooks on March 20th. That was a good gig and payment has come through. In addition, a national commercial I’m in and a catalog shoot were renewed, which means that there are residual payments in the pipeline.
I used to drive for Uber, Lyft, and NashRides. Demand for these have plummeted since the restaurants have closed and our city is staying at home. When the Coronavirus concerns were just starting in Nashville, I had a sore throat and cold-like symptoms. I had it checked out at a walk-in clinic and while not tested, I was told it was not the Coronavirus. Both Lyft and Uber urged drivers to stay home if not feeling well, so I did. They also offered payment compensation for drivers who tested positive for the virus, which I did not. I just missed work and getting paid.
My educational and role-playing events for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services have stopped like virtually all face-to-face classrooms and corporate trainings. I can cite one date that was confirmed and canceled, but otherwise it’s just more opportunity losses.
I remain on staff part-time at St. George’s even though The Table has not met since March 15. The band and I have pivoted to serve the community by producing weekly recorded-at-home music videos that we post online. This has been the MOST FUN! It has given me the opportunity to dig in and learn Ableton Live and Final Cut Pro. It’s also been meaningful to keep the musicans working and paid. Many of them are freelancers like I am and have lost gig work.
When I was younger, I dreamed of being a record producer. I’m not really producing these in a traditional sense – I’m not present when the musicians record and I lean heavily on my engineer who does have production experience. Still, the “#StayHome and Worship #WithMe” series have scratched a long-held creative itch. I’m super-proud of what we’ve been able to make in our own homes. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now: The Table Troubadours is the best church band in Nashville and I’m proud to be a part.
I’ve also taken the initiative to post daily Bible-reading videos of our parishioners. I’m still struggling to get this off the ground, but I’m excited at the prospect. It’s been fun interacting with the congregation while I’m “off the platform.” It also is helping me meet people.
Our Government
Like the rest of the country, we received some extra finances from the CARES ACT. This stimulus provided $1200 per adult and $500 per dependent child. At least, that’s the way it was marketed. As everyone with a high-school senior learned, there is no money for those dependents over 17. So our 18-year old didn’t get the $1200 because he’s still at home and he doesn’t get the $500 because he’s over 17. This is a known loophole that allows these kids to fall through the cracks. It’s just another thing they’ve lost. They’ll vote for the first time this fall and whichever politician taps into their collective grief will win them easily.
Since the government has opened up financial relief services to contract and gig workers like me, I’ve been applying for them. I’m told I qualify for unemployment and in addition to regular unemployment payment, the CARES ACT will give us an extra $600 a week. I’ve probably spent twelve hours researching and filling out forms. I haven’t succeeded and haven’t received a dime. I am labeled a “mixed income” worker, because part of my earnings is tracked via W2 forms and part of it is tracked via 1099 forms. For 2019, I had eight W2’s and nine 1099’s. This mixture blows the whole process up. There is a movement to fix it, but in the meantime I wait.
I’m told that once a week I need to log into the state’s website to “certify” that I’m able to work and my work has been negatively impacted by the pandemic. I need to do this because there are other sources of funds that I can only get to by showing that I don’t qualify for traditional unemployment insurance. Applying to this is a mess. It’s like a “soup sandwhich” as a friend used to say. The process and even the language in the online application (and it’s all online; forget about speaking with anyone) is not designed for people like me. There was a recent YouTube video the state posted to show how self-employed people should apply. Unfortunately, the video was posted about three weeks after I filed my claim. According to the video, I did not do it correctly. I am now in the process of trying to correct this. Wish me luck.
To my surprise, I was approved for a PPP loan as a sole proprietor. I’ve not yet received a clear answer as to what I can use the money for, however. I am quite confident that it is not free money, but finding someone who really understands the ramifications has been difficult. I think it’s just the wild, wild west for gig workers like me and it will take a while to sort everything out.
All of the non-government relief sources ask us to please delay applying if we can provide our own housing and food expenses. Fortunately, we can at the moment so I have not yet applied to those.
My Outlook
I am thankful and hopeful. I get to shelter in place with loved ones, I’m learning new skills, I have ways to express myself creatively, and I have my health. Keep your head up, dear reader. We are all in this together.
This is what shelter-at-home looks like at our house. Click to expand and read captions.
Since I have known you Jonathan , you have always been an inspiration to anyone that you come in contact with !
Thank you, Don. So nice to see you here.