Kaitlyn: What is the environment of the virus?

Mary: Like this right now. I'll go out to the store. Food shopping with my sister and come back. Before you go to the store, you pick a store, and then you go to Pop's to get a treat for myself. Then after that we come back to my house, and that's it!

Kaitlyn: What was a typical day like before the virus?

Kaitlyn: What is the environment of the virus?

Mary: Like this right now. I'll go out to the store. Food shopping with my sister and come back. Before you go to the store, you pick a store, and then you go to Pop's to get a treat for myself. Then after that we come back to my house, and that's it!

Kaitlyn: What was a typical day like before the virus?

Mary: I grab my lunch and I go outside and wait for my cab to come, you know, like Transnet. Then I do my crossword puzzle when the van or cab comes. Then when I get to the workshop, I always have my hot tea, get my cushion for my chair, then after that I sit. Wait for snack time, go down and have break, then come upstairs, do more work, then everyone goes back down for lunch time and I do my job; clean the tables and chairs.

Kaitlyn: Can you tell me more about your job?

Mary: My job is scheduled. I do trash and tables, push the chairs in, clean the floors. And that's it.

Kaitlyn: That's important work!

Mary: Yes, it is!

Kaitlyn: So, then what do you do after your jobs?

Mary: At the end of the day we go to the front and wait for the van to come and take us home. When I come home, I get my ice cream, I get the mail, I go upstairs, get settled, wait for my sister to get home. She cooks my dinner and packs my lunch.

Kaitlyn: Who are some of the people that you get to see at the workshop?

Mary: (Big smile and clap) First of all, Mike first, I always hug him first, then Jinie, then Heather, then Carl- my boyfriend. Then I see Vince, then after that, we start to work.

Kaitlyn: And what about your other friends?

Mary: Marybeth- she's my girlfriend, we talk a lot.

Kaitlyn: Mary, can you tell me about a typical day now? A typical day after the virus?

Mary: I sleep late. I get up around 9:00/9:30am.

Kaitlyn: And what time did you wake up when you were at the workshop?

Mary: Around 7:00/7:30am.

Kaitlyn: Okay, so now you wake up around 9:00/9:30am at your sister's house. Then what do you do?

Mary: At my sister's house, I got my own room on the third floor. I come down to get my breakfast. I have yogurt and granola bars. She calls me, and I come downstairs. After breakfast I take a steaming hot bath. Then I go back in my room, then I watch tv and I watch Charlie's Angels. At 10:00 it will be Bionic Woman, then at 11:00 I watch Six Million Dollar Man. His name in real life is Lee Majors.

Kaitlyn: So what do you do after you watch tv?

Mary: I turn it off then I come down here in the basement. I always work in the basement. Peace and Quiet.

Kaitlyn: Can you tell me more about your work? How has your work changed since the virus happened?

Mary: It's okay. I stay away from other people, so they won't get it. And that's fine with me.

Kaitlyn: Can you tell me about what you have been doing for work every day at your sister's house?

Mary: I have been working with Sam. We have a project where I draw.

Kaitlyn: What do you draw?

Mary: How about I show you my pictures (Mary holds up some of her finished colored pencil portraits).

Mary: Eric Esterada, I always watch TV shows, then I draw the person and that is a special project we do.

Kaitlyn: After you draw these portraits, what do you do with them?

Mary: I give them to Sam. She will give the person my drawing.

Kaitlyn: So someone asks you to draw a portrait and then they pay you for it, right?

Mary: Yes, they do. (Mary smiles and holds up a sticky note showing how much money she has made off her portraits)

Mary: I love doing this so much. I love it.

Kaitlyn: What do you love about it?

Mary: I love to draw. At my old house I used to have coloring books that I would color in. I'm doing this now. (Mary holds up a portrait she drew of "People on a Beach")

Kaitlyn: Mary, is there anything you miss doing that you were able to do before the virus, but you are not able to do right now?

Mary: I miss going shopping with my sister. Sometimes I do errands with Sally*(Mary's sister). Sometimes I go to doctors' appointments.

Kaitlyn: When you go out to run errands now, do you have to do anything differently?

Mary: I have to wear a mask.

Kaitlyn: Do you know why you have to wear a mask?

Mary: Because of the virus.

Kaitlyn: How do you feel about wearing a mask?

Mary: It's alright. It's comfortable. But I'm not sure when we're going back to the workshop yet. Sally says it's getting better, but I'm not going back to the workshop yet. Not until it's over.

Kaitlyn: Can you tell me a little more about this project?

Mary: Some people in the country will call in and then I draw them. Everywhere in the country. *(Mary spreads her arms out wide)

Kaitlyn: Do you get to see these people?

Mary: Yes. On my iPad. My new iPad.

Kaitlyn: What does your iPad allow you to do?

Mary: I have zoom!

Kaitlyn: So are you able to see some of the people you work with?

Mary: Yes! (*Mary smiles)

Kaitlyn: How do you feel about that?

Mary: I love that so much! (*Mary smiles big)

Mary: Because I can see more people. They can see me. But I can't hear them talk. There are so many people.

Kaitlyn: Are you talking about the big zoom meeting with all of your friends from the workshop?

Mary: Yes. Sometimes they hear me too. (*Mary shows more portraits naming each one as she holds it up)

Mary: This is Katie. I don't know her last name. This is Sammy (*depicts a woman in bright floral pants) Sammy calls in all the time. This is Adam. Do you know the Christmas Cartoon The Heat Miser?

Kaitlyn: Yes!

Mary: That's the hair I did on Adam. (*Mary continues to show her portraits) Here is Alex Trebek, he's from Jeopardy. Here's one for ya!: Steve Harvey! From Family Feud.

Kaitlyn: Wow Mary! Those are amazing, you're working so hard.

Mary: I am! (*Mary piles her portraits together and puts them aside)

Kaitlyn: Are there any challenges that you've faced during the virus? Has anything been hard for you?

Mary: I think so. Yes.

I get upset all the time. I get upset about the virus. I don't want to die. I hate dying.

Kaitlyn: Do you want to talk about what has been hard or what upsets you about the virus?

Mary: I get upset all the time. I get upset about the virus. I don't want to die. I hate dying. My sister says to me, "You're not going to die." I have to wash my hands (* Mary motions washing her hands) I do that all the time anyway. I can't itch my face. I can't touch my face, or my arms, or my legs. That's hard for me! I always use my washcloth or a tissue.

Kaitlyn: So that is a big change for you that you had to learn?

Mary: Yes.

Kaitlyn: You have talked about some good things that have come from this time; you get to make these commission pieces and you get to work with people from all over the country. That's pretty cool! How does that make you feel?

Mary: I love that! We have stuff in common.

Kaitlyn: What kind of stuff do you have in common?

Mary: Okay, let me give you an example. I talk with Adam. Me and him have stuff in common. I have questions for him. I always put my questions on a piece of paper first. (*Mary grabs her paper and begins reading the questions she asks everyone she does a commission piece for.)

Mary: So. I ask: 'Where do you live?' 'Do you watch Soap Operas, like General Hospital.' He told me his mom and grandma watched General Hospital. 'What's your favorite TV show?' Then I ask, 'what is your favorite restaurant? And I say, 'have you ever heard of J.D. McGillicuddy's' and he says yes, he likes that. Then I ask, 'what's your favorite pet?' I can't remember what he said, it's been a long time. 'What is your favorite ice cream?' I think he said chocolate or mint chocolate chip. Then I tell him I like ice cream, myself. I like a dixie cup with half chocolate, half vanilla. I ask him, 'what is your favorite color?' He told me it was green. I ask him, 'what is your favorite musician or group?' I asked if he has ever heard of Bobby Caldwell. He asked why the name sounded familiar. I told him I have a tape of him. Then I asked him 'what is your favorite food?' He said he likes Chinese and Thai food. After that, that's it.

Kaitlyn: Do you ask everyone you make a commission piece for, these questions?

Mary: Yes.

Kaitlyn: How do you feel when you get to meet these people from around the country?

Mary: I love it. My next door neighbors from my old house. They called in. I got to catch up with them. I was so excited!

Kaitlyn: What is it like using zoom and talking to people through the computer?

Mary: I like it. I like talking to all these people. I like seeing all the people I talk to.

Kaitlyn: Does the computer make things harder or easier?

Mary: I think easier. I love it. I like to meet more people that have things in common with me.

Kaitlyn: When you are getting ready for class or for a session or if you are getting ready for a commission, does anyone help set you up?

Mary: My sister; she sets me up.

Kaitlyn: Mary, you have friendships at CCW and relationships with people you are close to. Are those different than the relationships you've made on the computer?

Mary: No. They're the same.

Kaitlyn: What kinds of things do you do in those friendships?

Mary: Being with them and talking.

Kaitlyn: Where do you learn about the virus and how to be safe?

Mary: I really don't know. That's a good question for my sister. My sister and my sister-in-law tell me. My sister-in-law is a nurse.

Kaitlyn: Are you able to stay connected with your friends from CCW?

Mary: Yes.

Kaitlyn: How are you able to stay connected?

Mary: The Program Specialists get us together. Like you and me right now. We ate lunch together. I loved it so much! I like that!

Kaitlyn: Was that different than when you talk to them in person?

Mary: It was the same. I liked it a lot.

Kaitlyn: Do you miss your friends from CCW (Center for Creative Works)?

Mary: Yes.

Kaitlyn: How do you feel about not seeing them in person right now

Mary: Different. I don't know.

Kaitlyn: Do you think when we are able to go back to the center when it is safe to do so, do you think you would want to use the computer still?

Mary: I'm not sure.

Kaitlyn: When the virus goes away, what do you think life will be like?

Mary: I love this question. I cannot wait to get back to the workshop!

Kaitlyn: What do you think it will be like when we go back to the workshop?

Mary: Same as usual.

Kaitlyn: Why are you so ready to go back to the workshop?

Mary: I want to see more people!

Kaitlyn: What does it feel like when you get to be around people?

Mary: It feels good inside.

Kaitlyn: What does it feel like to not be able to see those people.

Mary: It makes me sad.

Kaitlyn: What makes you happy right now?

Mary: Doing this with you!

Kaitlyn: What do you do to make yourself feel happy when you are ever sad about missing people?

Mary: When I see them, I hug them.

Kaitlyn: Mary, is there anything else that you want to tell me about the virus or life right now?

Mary: Well, first, I hate it. I wish it would go away and never come back at all. I want to go out and do the things I used to do with my sister.

I wish the virus would go somewhere else, like another country. But I want them to be safe too.

Kaitlyn: Do you think the world can learn anything from what has happened?

Mary: I wish the virus would go somewhere else, like another country. But I want them to be safe too. (*Mary begins to draw Katie and asks to see her shirt so she can draw it better)

Mary: I need to see you in person. I can't do this. It's hard in this square. I need to see you.

Kaitlyn: Is it hard to see me through the computer?

Mary: Yes.

Kaitlyn: Is it easier to draw portraits when you see them in person?

Mary: Yes.

Kaitlyn: How do you think the virus has impacted people with disabilities?

Mary: I don't know.

Kaitlyn: Do you think it makes life harder or easier?

Mary: Harder.

Kaitlyn: Is there anything else you want to tell me about life right now?

Mary: I'm happy. Life makes me happy.

Kaitlyn: What about life makes you happy?

Mary: My birthday! I am counting down.

Kaitlyn: What are you going to do for your birthday?

Mary: I invited six people to come.

Kaitlyn: Do you have to do anything special for the BBQ because of the virus.

Mary: We'll be outside and my cousins and friends will be spread out on the porch.