“It showed up a couple times in pictures of Maycie. Instead of red eye, she had white. Then we noticed it every once in a while when she was in the bathtub or in her high chair. We thought it was a reflection from the … Continue readingWhite dots in her eyes signified cancer
(Kurt Grevenberg is a native New Yorker who permanently settled in Baytown in 2015. In this essay, he reflects on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on his former home, friends and family.) It was late September 2001 in New York City. For the first time in … Continue reading‘I worry if I’ll have to say goodbye to more loved ones’
“At the Opportunity Center, we help adults with disabilities become as independent as possible in their lives and in their communities. “Since we closed in March because of the coronavirus, I’ve been calling parents to check up on our clients as much as possible. The … Continue readingThey’re missing Opportunity Center clients
“Prior to the coronavirus interrupting all our lives, I would do my work with the recruitment and enrollment department at Lee College pretty much five days out of the week. And on Monday nights, I would race from work over to Deer Park to conduct … Continue readingHe turns to comedy in times of need
“I’ve learned so much about the coronavirus, like how you can carry it without knowing and pass it along to others. That makes it very difficult to see and track. “My sister, mom and dad all agreed to limit physical contact from different households due … Continue readingSocial distancing can be heart-breaking
“I grew up in a very traditional Mexican household, where the father was the one who provided and the mother stayed home. That continued until I was 11 or 12, when my mother started working to help with the bills. “My father was always a … Continue readingYoung feminist chases her dreams
“My mother works for the county. She’s been at Stallworth Stadium several weeks now, where they’re testing people for coronavirus. They’re open every day, and she only gets one day off. So it’s been physically and emotionally exhausting for her. “They’re testing about 250 a … Continue readingHer mom on coronavirus testing front lines
“Woody and I are at the stay-at-home-and-don’t-panic stage of life. Our kids do not want us to go out because of our age. “We realize we have been given a gift from God. It’s the gift of years. He will be 90 in May, and … Continue readingThey manage with recliner church, dominoes, family
“I’ve been a hair stylist for over 35 years. My mother was a hair stylist, so I grew up in the salons. When I started, we worked together for a long period of time. Then I decided to move on and do my own thing. … Continue readingHair salons impacted by coronavirus
Overwhelmed by the daily COVID-19 updates, the stresses of four adults living together in a pandemic, and five pets beneath our feet, I am doing a lot of self-therapy with ink, specifically poetry. Poetry is my journal, my written reflections of riding an emotional roller … Continue readingPoetry reflects emotional roller coaster ride