It is little known that Stamas was a part of launching this blog back at the start of the pandemic in 2020. We felt it was a good time to check in with him and ask him what his feelings are currently about coping with present day challenges that have taken a turn, maybe not for the better, due to the delta variant
What was your part in establishing the first 100 days of this blog and how do you think that it will best continue its mission?
I think the original idea of Manhattan Coronavirus was to follow a family’s daily struggle that included having to stay indoors, desperately searching for ways to get food delivered, plus anything that happened. In the beginning we did not think that the pandemic would last any longer than 100 days, so the plan was to do a post a day for 100 days which is what happened. But then, 100 days passed, and it did not look for being able to get back to normal. Manhattan Coronavirus’ origin mission was to do the 100-day experiment. At this point the concept for the site has had to shift. The idea now is to occasionally post new updates such as this one.
Do you think it would be helpful to the wellbeing of others in these days of COVID to start a blog, or at least chronicle their ongoing experience, and if so, how and why?
It comes down to the individual. Some people have had cathartic moments of insight. Others do not want to be bothered with having to write something every day.
Are you currently keeping a COVID journal, and if so, does it help you deal with the everyday issues we all share while living with the pandemic?
I personally do not write in a journal every day, though if occasionally a thought comes up that I see needing to be written down, I do so. And yes, some of those ideas have to do with COVID.