Life is different now.
The week after Bedford's schools closed, I was feeling scared and lonely. Like most other people, I was trying to navigate this new world of online school, Zoom meetings and virtual everything. Something amazing began to evolve. I noticed how quickly and creatively people were adapting. Birthday parades, virtual tea parties, homemade obstacle courses, kids playing outside WAY more often, and families spending more time together than ever before.
Our community also came together in generous and wonderful ways. Facebook groups popped up, offering humor, support and even a spare roll of toilet paper. Because that's what neighbors do. Now I see businesses doing their best to go with this crazy flow and change the way they do things, in order to serve their community in a safer way.
I started photographing my own family and carrying my camera wherever we went, so that if I came across something different and new, I could document it. I then asked some friends if I could stop by and see what they were up to, from a safe distance. Word of mouth traveled and now I have a full schedule of families, waiting to be documented.
Throughout this experience, I continue to be amazed at people's ability to adapt, make the best of a situation, and just go on with life. I've also been honored that so many families have opened up their lives, experiences and stories with me.
Life is different now. It's not easy. But we can do this. Together.