Well, here we are. It’s been exactly one full year since quarantine started and our first stay at home orders were put into place.

I took the following photos about 2 months into the pandemic but never shared them because I wasn’t sure exactly when or how to use them. Now seems like a good time. When I went out that day to photograph the eerie empty parking lots and closed businesses that we were all missing, I never expected that one year later, we’d still be here, waiting for if and when things might be normal again.

Here are some of those images mixed with some of what we have experienced over the past year. Feel free to add to my list <3

quarantine one year later empty parking lot
quarantine one year later empty parking lot

One year ago we were told to stay home for 2 weeks

One year ago stay at home orders were put in place

One year ago daycare shut down

One year ago the streets emptied

quarantine one year later school closed

One year ago stores closed their doors

One year ago we shut ours to the outside world

One year ago we got divided into essential and non-essential

One year ago many lost their jobs

quarantine one year later closed sign

One year ago some of our favorite restaurants and stores closed their doors to never reopen again

One year ago schools closed

One year without dining in a restaurant

One year without going to brunch

quarantine one year later school closed busses

One year of zoom meetings

One year of trying to entertain a toddler

One year of political, social and racial unrest

One year without barbeques and cookouts with friends

quarantine one year later empty church

One year without visiting family wearing masks and hand sanitizing

One year full or concern about unknowingly getting or giving the virus

One year without playgrounds

One year with no movie theaters

quarantine one year later closed bar

One year without theme parks 

One year without babysitters

One year of figuring it all out on our own

One year of wondering if we should clean our groceries

quarantine one year later closed theater empty
quarantine one year later beet to go

One year of working from home

One year without meeting friends for drinks

One year with no live music

One year of constant worry

quarantine one year later empty football field

One year of being glued to the news in hopes of a miracle

One year of teaching our children how to wear masks, learning what a virus is and how it spreads. Teaching our little ones more than they should have to know right now.

quarantine one year later closed sign

One year of missed birthdays, weddings and milestone celebrations

One year of missed family funerals

One year of cancelled vacations

One year of genuine frustration

quarantine one year later closed theater
quarantine one year later empty parking lot

BUT ALSO… In the midst of it all, there were blessings in disguise:

One year of quality family time

One year of practicing patience

One year of learning how to manage a household in a way never needed before

quarantine one year later shut down

One year of growth

One year of appreciating the small things

One year of cooking healthier meals at home

quarantine one year later empty parking lot

One year of turning worry into hope

One year of seeing the best and the worst in people

One year of intense bonding with my son

quarantine one year later gym closed

One year of learning how to run my own business amongst the most difficult of circumstances

One year of trying new things

One year of what truly matters to us in life

quarantine one year later school closed

One year of using technology to stay connected

One year of wearing comfy pants 

One year of finding joy in the small things

quarantine one year later school closed

This list can go on and on, both with the positives and negatives.

Needless to say, it’s been a year of growth, change, challenges and tested patience.

I can only hope that there is a bright light on the horizon. And that next time, society can do a better job of coming together for the common good because obviously, that was a big struggle this time around.

quarantine one year later closed

Wishing you all peace, health and happiness. Here’s to one year down, hopefully not much more to go!

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