Rutherford Epicenter

Hello family!
Living in NYC during this time has been quite the roller coaster. NYC is considered the epicenter of our country and unique to our country with it's 24/7 public transportation, population and tourist density. So, it caught everything and moved fastest...but let's back track for a moment.

2020 was off to a very promising start! Kurtis had been working many load in/load out gigs at various theatres downtown as well as a bit of work at The Shed. Mary had begun her very first show being the Wardrobe Supervisor on Broadway, Girl from the North Country with a small crew of 10 people to oversee, 26 cast members with swings and a 2.5hr show that had just gotten rave reviews from it's opening night. Aurora was enjoying her second year in 'Too Cool for Preschool' as the oldest in her class and enjoying time with various sitters, including Amy who has been with our family for 3 years.

On March 12, the governor of New York announced that gatherings would be limited by number and Broadway shut down for a month. Both of us became immediately unemployed. Mary worked an additional day to cover the costumes for moth protection. Then, in a thought that this was not so serious currently, we took off to do a quick visit with family in the middle of the country. (This allowed for a delightful dinner with Andrew, Katie and Theo in Chicago.) Each day that we were out visiting, the situation became rapidly more dire. By the time we reached KC, 4 days in to our travels, we were down to 50% of the people that we would have liked to see; a few days later we called it and turned around to come home.

On the flight home, a man sitting just a couple of rows in front of us had an anxiety attack mid-air, prompting oxygen to be brought to him and looking very much like Covid-19. By the time we touched down at home, our reality was brand new. We were the epicenter of the United States.

It still felt very surreal, but the sirens from ambulances, blared through the streets for the first couple of weeks at an alarming rate of every 20 minutes or so. Friends became sick with Covid-19, some friends of friends died. The streets outside the hospitals were lined with refrigerated trucks to act as morgues as the hospitals became overwhelmed and help flew in from around the country. Masks became the new normal each time that we step outside our door and a once crowded subway system became so empty that you could ride a car alone.

Every night at 7p, we lean out our window at our fire escape and cheer for those still working. From postal workers to emergency workers to grocery store clerks and beyond. The refrigerated trucks still exist, people are still getting sick and being admitted to the hospital. Our extension came first until June 7 and again until September 6 - it will be longer that we will be without the work that we love. We'll see how long we can survive without work in general.

Aurora has been surprisingly resilient through it all. Mostly, I think she is having a wonderful time being a little kid with both of her parents around to play with her. We have a schedule that we follow most weekdays and have been able to connect her with Amy for some sanity breaks. But, there are times where it's sad. Where Aurora cries out from her quiet time for the people that she is missing, where she needs an extra hug or twenty at bedtime to get through, where she wants to go outside without putting a mask on and where we just have to shed some tears together.

Nowhere was this more obvious than the beginning of April when we all desperately wanted to be with family for Grandpa's passing. I spoke with him on the phone a few days before and asked him the question "Are you ready for what's next?". He paused thoughtfully and said, "Yes, I really think that I am."  That question and answer was something that I played through my head many times in the past weeks. It's important to ask the big questions.

As much as we love our home, we realize that the summer will be unsustainable for us here. Many of our friends have already left. We have ventured outside once a day with Aurora when it has not been rainy, but it's not the same as having a backyard to run freely around in. And, the sunshine makes a huge difference for all of us.

So, at some point, when the numbers feel right, we'll venture outward and find our new normal in various spots across the country to visit, hug, find the sun and feel whole again. Until then, keep being the intelligent human beings that you all are - protect yourselves, those you love and protect all of those you come in contact with. The world needs intelligent kindness and love right now.

Time at home together!

Aurora finished her last day of 'Too Cool for Preschool' early due to the coronavirus.

Kurtis built a giant fort in the living room. It stayed up for about two weeks and made a big difference in those rainy weeks.

New normal.

We all wear our masks every time that we walk out of our door.

Amy and Aurora - they are best buds!

Aurora has a spirit that is full of compassion, intelligence and strength.
Many days are a challenge and they are all worth it.