Contributed by Tina Holland.

As I write this in my state, ND is expected to lift the quarantine ban on May 1st.   Given everything, I’m doubtful this will be the case.  I guess I will find out the next time our Governor streams on Facebook.

I do know one thing.  YouTube and all the streaming services of Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, Tubi, and a hundred more have made life a bit more bearable giving me something to escape from or learn new things.

I’ve attended a ton of write-ins with The Courtney Project as well as Craft Time in the Time of Corona Virus with Writer Zen Garden.    These have been necessary at times to keep me motivated. Because more people are working from home, and if you are like me you need some people interaction, this has been very helpful in connecting with others.  I know for First Friday Lunch on April 3rd,  I saw double my viewership, a grand total of 8 people, on my April video.

We’ve been able to keep in touch with loved ones across town, and maybe we’ve stayed more connected to those across the world taking advantage of things like Facetime, Hangouts, House Party, Zoom, Skype, and a ton more apps letting us talk to one another.   And while some of you may have noticed your systems getting bogged down because of increased traffic, it is nice to have these options available to us.

Believe it or not, there are some people who do not have access to the internet or paid streaming services.   I can only hope that they have found ways to escape, bond, or create in The Time of COVID-19.   I’m sure in the months to come stories of connection, creation, isolation, and perseverance will emerge painting a picture of this moment and even though we will be connecting face-to-face, I don’t doubt our stories on these services will serve as a record for months (maybe even years) to come.