A day in the quarantine life of our shop manager, Joe Bailey:
In accordance with the stay-at-home orders currently in place, I don't spend much time outside my apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. New York City has been hit pretty hard during this pandemic. But we New Yorkers are adapting well and making the necessary adjustments to our daily routines to increase our personal safety and the safety of others.
A few times a day, though, my fiancée and I take our dog for a walk. These strolls have allowed me to explore and rediscover the neighborhood I have lived in my entire life. On one walk, we passed by a local dry cleaners that has been sewing face masks for free for anyone who brings in their fabric.
Art Cleaners
has been in business since the early 90s and is located a few blocks from my former elementary school. I stopped in, introduced myself and had a nice conversation with the owner, Mark. I asked him what motivated him to start making masks for free and he said "We're a community, I want to help people."
Speaking of community, one of the rituals that communities around the world have adopted is the daily cheer for healthcare workers and first-responders. Here in New York City this occurs every day at 7 PM EST, rain or shine. It is a raucous and vibrant "Thank you!" to those who are putting their lives on the line each day to help and care for those in need. It is also an incredibly moving, bonding experience and reinforces the sentiment that we are all in this together and will one day get through the worst of it.
I hope this video from my roof evokes a similar feeling in those who watch it and I encourage you to join in tonight. Even if you live far away or can't make it up to a rooftop, we can all be connected and together again in spirit.
PS- I've got a neighbor who gets pretty into the cheering so you may want to make sure your speakers aren't turned all the way up... Enjoy!