‘I Am Drained Emotionally’
Chicago-area landlord Derrick Rowe had to sell three properties and borrow against his retirement to make ends meet this year.
My Pandemic Year
What The Year Of COVID-19 Taught Us
WBEZ asked Chicagoans to share how they’ve adjusted and evolved during an unthinkable year. Here are the stories — in their words.
Among the countless mundane moments from the past year, there are so many stories of heartache, renewal and gratitude. So, we wanted to know: How has living through a year of pandemic isolation changed you? What have you learned?
We heard from dozens of Chicagoans, who told us about coping with the loss of a brother, finding solace in the icy waters of Lake Michigan or discovering something inside themselves. Here are essays from just 11 of the people who responded. Click “Listen” to hear their voices.
Featured
![]()
‘In The Water’s Embrace, I Feel Part Of The Whole’
Author Jian Ping added winter swims to her routine, and it has been magical.
![]()
‘I No Longer Simply Accommodate Routine – I Crave It’
Evanston resident Susannah Pratt discovered an appreciation for the quiet routine of family life in quarantine.
![]()
‘They Didn’t Teach This In Library School’
Librarian Brittany Drehobl helped move services online and learned just how essential her work is to the community.
![]()
‘To Isolate, To Rest And Try Not To Die’
Writer Stan Engelsen’s emergency room experience brought back memories of losing a loved one to AIDS in the 1980s.
![]()
‘I Had To Learn How To Protect Myself’
Elementary school teacher Mel Georgiou created a club for gamers to help her students connect and discovered her own value as an educator.
![]()
‘Not Being Able To Say Goodbye … Haunts You’
When activist Jorge Valdivia lost his brother to COVID-19, who lived his life to the fullest, Valdivia was inspired to apply to grad school.
![]()
‘They Don’t Understand The Pandemic … But They Still Do Want A Hug’
Northwestern professor Michelle Buck grappled with physical distance from her mother, who has advanced dementia, and her infant granddaughter.
![]()
‘I Took Baking With My Grandma For Granted. … I Won’t Ever Take It For Granted Again’
Ellis Curry, 9, says despite the stress of this year, she’s learned gratitude for family and friends.
![]()
With A Return To ‘Normalcy, I Fear Will Be Left Behind’
Writer Suzanne McDonough, whose immune diseases make her especially vulnerable to COVID-19, felt comfort in a world of masks and caution.
![]()
An Artist’s ‘Low Battery Of An Exhausted Search Of COVID-19’
Chicago artist Yvette Mayorga used acrylic, nails, collage and rhinestones to make this painting, on display in New York City.
![]()
Latest
![]()
From ‘Cautious’ To ‘Blessed’: Chicagoans Reflect On Getting Vaccinated
Curious City spent the morning at two Chicago-area vaccination sites and spoke to people who’d just gotten a dose of the vaccine.
![]()
WATCH: A Look Back At 2020, In 52 Photos
We’ve lived through a year like no other. Here’s what it looked like in Chicago and around the world.
![]()
What 3 Health Care Workers Learned About The Pandemic — And Themselves
Mental health challenges. Isolation. Reusing PPE. What three health workers learned from Illinois’ first coronavirus surge.
![]()
PHOTOS: How Coronavirus Reached Chicago
The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, last December. Less than a month later, cases were reported in the U.S. — including Chicago.
![]()
He’s Home After Being Hospitalized For COVID-19 — But Still Can’t Hug His Daughter
Michael Bane’s essay on getting COVID-19 spread widely on Facebook. Now, he’s home and recovering, but still in isolation.
