Reopening Illinois: Why I won’t be running to the open stores & restaurants right away…

So, Illinois is no longer under a #stayathome order. With our new “open reality,” it is now called “Recovery Executive Order.” Retail stores, salons, barbers and outdoor eating at restaurants are open again. Some people have been going stir crazy and can’t wait to start entering the indoor retail world of shopping. Then , there

Lifting stay at home orders and moving from an infected pandemic to angry pandemonium

In Illinois, May 29, 2020, it was marked the end of the #stayathome order. Out of the entire United States, our state was actually the only one that met the guidelines to slowly reopen again – of course, other places around the U.S. had already began to open and much earlier than they should have.

The New Normal with COVID19: A Gradual Reopening-It’s not over until…

It’s been a two-month stay at home order and on May 29th, in Illinois, we are moving into phase 3… This will include openings of offices, retail stores, dental offices, manufacturing, all state parks and restaurants/bars having outdoor seating. Drive-ins are making a come-back since theaters are closed. Although, there won’t be any new movies

The New Normal With COVID19: THE COVID BATTLES

  …  I know that it has been at least since the third week of March that we have been at this “Stay at home shelter,” thing.  I am starting to lose count. Whether it has been a month, month and a half, or almost two months, any way you look at it, it feels

The New Normal (COVID19)… 7 weeks? 2 months- Everyone’s getting restless.

  I think it has been almost two months that we’ve been sheltering in place? I could be wrong. The weeks really blend together these days. I do know when it is Monday and Thursday because that is when I go to the office. The stay at home extension was extended right before April ended.

The New Normal (COVID19) 4 weeks gone by… Changes, protests & political differences

It has been four weeks of Sheltering in Place… The second extension is set to expire on April 30. In the news, we have seen a retaliation of protesters who are wanting relief from “Stay at Home Shelter” orders across many states. Some of them being in my home state of Illinois in Springfield. The

The New Normal with COVID19: The Dilemma on Reopening the Nation- When is the right time?

  In most of America, 90% of its population has been “Shelter in Place,” or in “lock-down.”  There are a few states who never put those measures in place, but did encourage its citizens to stay home more, encouraging the slogan, “Safer at Home.”  Here in Illinois, we started “Shelter in Place” a couple weeks

Photo art and releasing emotions…

“Reminiscing of how things were before everything changed. Hoping that some aspects of our lives are better after this is all over. Living each day, as safely as I can to survive, so that I can see the light at the end of the darkness.”  – Ariana R Cherry (Just mixing some of my photography

Spoken Word Poetry: We’re at War (with COVID19)

I recently wrote another poem about COVID19 and our war with it and recorded it on my “SPOKEN WORD POETRY PODCAST” show… click on the link to tune in and listen. I also give a bit of an update about my time during “Shelter in Place.” https://anchor.fm/ariana-r-cherry/episodes/Spoken-Word-Poetry-Were-at-War-ecnvrs?fbclid=IwAR2REQrkyxrqhyGhgS2CBH2IzNFEJRyCRr-pYT4YaGZZMgxJm5bBTsp5z4w

The New Normal with COVID19: Three Weeks Shelter in Place

It started with Lysol, hand sanitizer and hand soap. Then people began hoarding toilet paper…. Now, people are purchasing hair color and hair clippers off the shelves. I wonder what will be the next new thing to panic buy? With many of us still in Shelter in Place, some are worried about growing some extra