Local Lives in a Global Pandemic: Stories from North Central Florida | Collected by the Matheson History Museum and the Writer's Alliance of Gainesville

Edited by Pat Caren, Charles Cobb, Ronnie Lovler, & Mallory M. O’Connor

Preface by Mayor Lauren Poe

Forewords by Dixie Neilson and Pat Caren

Other than a handful of epidemiologists, few had an inkling of what 2020 had in store for us. Diseases such as smallpox, the bubonic plague, and cholera were things of the past. Modern medicine had contained, if not conquered, such pestilences. Even the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 was but a small chapter in the history books. Such things couldn’t happen in the 21st Century, could they?

Most of us were blindsided. Early in the year, when reports of a new coronavirus began to circulate and scientists warned us this could become a global pandemic, we thought, how bad could it really be? Recent decades had brought us scares: Ebola, SARS, dengue fever, Zika. These had caused deaths, certainly, but for relatively few people. Public health practices and medical care kept most of us safe. We expected the same with this new disease.

We weren’t far into 2020 before our perceptions began to change. In late February, the Centers for Disease Control warned that everyday life could be disrupted. By early March, handshakes were out, elbow bumps were in. I attended a function where, instead of serving ourselves from the buffet, servers standing behind a Plexiglas barrier asked what we wanted and filled our plates for us. Travel was restricted. Rumors of quarantine began to circulate. Elderly people began to isolate themselves.

Mid-March, the world changed. Schools were closed. People were told to stay home and, if possible, work from home. Sports events were cancelled. I doubt science fiction writers could have foreseen what was in store for us. Even our language has changed. Social distancing has become a verb. “Stay safe” has replaced “Have a good day.”

“May you live in interesting times.” This is widely attributed to be a Chinese curse, although there is no evidence it originated in China. Whatever its origin, we do find ourselves in interesting times!

The Matheson History Museum in Gainesville decided to record history in the making and create an archive of the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people during this pandemic. A handful of community members contributed artwork, photography, and narrative accounts. The suggestion that these be complied in a book was made. Ronnie Lovler and Mallory O’Connor, who have connections with both the Matheson and the Writers Alliance of Gainesville, thought that local writers would be a good resource. As WAG president, I threw my lot in. Thus, a partnership was formed. University of Florida Professor Charlie Cobb, who is on the Matheson Board, joined our editorial team.