'9 a.m. — I wake up late; no headache, no fever, but still feeling generally unwell. I post on Instagram about having the 'cron —suddenly a dozen or more people reveal that they also just came down with it.'
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
My parents owned a small business together and are both very frugal, so money was spoken about frequently. My parents had fairly strict budgets for everything. We got $100 for back-to-school shopping and my mom has kept a balance sheet of all of her child-related expenses since we were born. Money and a certain level of financial anxiety were somewhat constant, despite the fact that they have been financially stable for many years .
9 a.m. — I get home from class and am absolutely ravenous. I fry an egg while some bacon sizzles in the air fryer. I put it over leftover sautéed cabbage and scarf it down. Still hungry, I put vegan yogurt and granola into a small bowl and hop into my first call of the day. 4 p.m. — I don't get as much done as I want today, but it was good to get out of the house. I pack up and go out to dinner with a friend.
9 a.m. — My friend drops off rapid tests, pineapple, and kombucha. For all of the ways that LA sucks socially, after six years, I have a real A-team of people who will show up for me if I need them, and this is evidence. I take the tests: the first is negative. Second one is positive. I schedule a PCR test for later in the day and realize that I won't be going home tomorrow and I'll be spending the next few weeks in quarantine. This sucks.
2 p.m. — In a moment of optimism, I order delivery — a couple of cold cut sandwiches, chips, and a giant Coke. None of these things are part of my normal diet, and when they arrive, I drink the soda and put the rest in the fridge. I get an email that my office is remaining closed through the end of next month. Back to 2020!7 p.m. — A friend sends over an order of matzo ball soup from the deli, which hits the spot. It's always a good time for soup.