10 emails I sent a year ago
Remembering when everything changed overnight
Inspired by Will Leitch’s How Long Is a Year, Anyway?
Emails from one year ago are a time capsule, like the March 2020 calendar that still hangs in my office. Here are 10 quotes from emails I sent a year ago, when we hoped this would be over by the end of March… or April.. or maybe summer or fall?
March 1: Your inbox is already filled with updates from everywhere about coronavirus protocol (tl;dr wash your hands for >20 seconds + don’t touch your face).
If only it was that easy!
March 6: First U.S. College to Close Classrooms as Virus Spreads. More Could Follow. The University of Washington said it would move to online classes for its 50,000 students. With colleges nationwide about to empty for spring break, students fear they might not be coming back.
A week later, the university I work for did the same.
March 11: Do we have contingency planning if the school has to close? Online learning or extending the school year?
I emailed my kids’ school superintendent. The short answer was, no.
March 12: this was a good perspective… gonna stop going to the gym for awhile
Forwarded an article from Brad Stulberg about the need to “embrace reality.”
March 13: Governor Evers just issued a state of emergency for Wisconsin and this directive: There is a 14 day self-quarantine issued for anyone that has traveled recently outside of the state of Wisconsin. This includes Chicago… I hope everyone is taking this seriously with back-up plans.
Spoiler alert: Not everyone was taking this seriously.
March 13: We just suspended classes, so this week has been unusual to say the least. I’ll be in touch!
I thought this was a fairly good excuse for a late reply to an email.
March 14: Kids are currently pacified on electronics for the time being thank god. Disney plus is putting Frozen 2 online early. Will attempt to work from home, teach online classes and take online classes starting next week. So glad we got a peloton. Good luck guys. We haven’t even hit the end of the beginning yet.
A year later, maybe we’re at the beginning of the end?
March 15: Working from home indefinitely.
When a friend asked my plans for work. This is still true.
March 16: Hell yeah let’s do it.
When a friend asked if we wanted to video chat after the kids were in bed.
March 22: Today was Saturday I think?
I’m still not sure if it’s Saturday, but I’m ready for a new day. I hope this time it’s just around the corner.
