In Celebration of Raw Data
In Celebration of Raw Data (Living in the Fallout from the Coronavirus)
As we move deeply into fall, Northeast Ohio is flaunting this splendid season. Leaves are turning from green to red and orange and yellow. Goldenrod—the bane of people with allergies—lights up meadows. Pumpkins and brilliantly colored chrysanthemums decorate front porches—as do Halloween decorations.
Still, as my husband (Al) and I enjoy long hikes in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park or Metro Parks, I often ponder the frightening, invisible foe that continues to attack everyone in the world: COVID-19.
Al and I first heard of the Coronavirus in December 2019. But, as something that existed thousands of miles away in China, we gave it little more than a sideways glance. In January, news ratcheted up, and by March, reports of infiltration into the United States was undeniable. After that, life changed. Today—from behind my mask when I am in public—I try to “read” expressions in the eyes of strangers during infrequent and quick trips to the grocery store. I try to express my own emotions—keeping things positive—by offering friendly “hello” greetings. I write many more letters than in the past…make more phone calls…read more books…post more sunset photos on social media.
One space that helped me connect with others was the wonderful blog Raw Data: Living in the Fallout from the Coronavirus, created and launched by two sisters: Mary and Susan Grimm. The intent of this collective blog was to “capture a sense of immediacy…reaction(s) to the coronavirus right now, not looking back in hindsight.” I was among many people who wrote blog posts for Raw Data. From early March through the end of September, 190 posts were published—everything from essays, poems, songs, prayers, lists, and more—each a reflection of its author’s fears, optimistic hopes, meditations, anxieties, yearnings, and so much more.
In this strange, sad season of our lives, I frequently turned to Raw Data to read the newest post—or to scroll back through older posts—as a way to understand that I was not standing all alone with my feelings.
On October 6, Mary Grimm posted a final reflection: “Raw Data: Shutting the Door.” The blog will remain available as evidence of the ways that people have managed their way through COVID-19, but the active collection of posts has come to an end.
Thank you—Mary and Susan Grimm—for gifting us with a place where we could anchor our thoughts as a community of writers, readers, teachers, students, and friends.
https://rawdatafalloutfromthecoronavirus.blogspot.com/
