Page 68 - FDCC Pandemic Book

Living in a Pandemic: A Collection of Stories on Coping, Resilience & Hope
are certified by the FDA to kill the Covid virus. Good timing Michael- his annual quota was reached in his first six weeks on the job.
Ashley was furloughed and like everyone else in her company, was eventually laid off. She has since been hired by a company that organizes online events and is busy with her mother planning a wedding.
In the meantime, they adopted their first child Penelope, a beagle, who is a little spitfire training them for real parenthood. Ashley and Michael also bought their first home in a beautiful neighborhood in Scottsdale.
RYAN - LIVING ABROAD
Our son Ryan, now 24, moved to Spain to teach upon graduating from Denison University in 2018. For the 2019-2020 school year, Ryan was assigned to school in Madrid, which became a well-publicized hot spot for the virus in Europe. In addition to teaching high school English, technology, and other courses, he was hired as the Wide Receiver Coach for the Rivas Osos of the professional Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (LNFA).
Anxiety was high since little was known about the virus, and Ryan was on a different continent in a country with socialized medicine, but had no relationship with any medical doctor or clinic. Although he was young and healthy, the virus seemed indiscriminate and inconsistent, not affecting many much or any at all, while ravaging and killing others.
Even before the U.S., the schools in Spain were shuttered, leaving Ryan with the decision to stay or come home. The football season was also cancelled, and Ryan was able to leave the Province of Madrid the day before they sealed the border. After spending a few weeks in the U.K. with his girlfriend Nic’s family, Ryan flew home on one of the last direct flights back to San Francisco.
Later he would be joined by both Ashley and Emily, and the empty nest was for several months a full and bustling house again. Our beagles Stella and Olivia were confused but happy. In truth, it will most likely be the last time we spend as a family time together for months on end. It was a blessing to see our children interact with each other and to beat them at cards and board games.
Ryan eventually returned to Madrid in September for the new school year, determined to finish what he had started. The schools had re-opened and he was re-hired by Rivas Osos as their offensive coordinator, responsible for installing a new offense. We would read about the second wave, and third wave, and Ryan confirmed the travel restrictions were real and well-enforced, but football gave him the exception he needed leave the province. The Osos are currently 3-1, and leading the league in total points scored per game at 39.Unable to return home for the holidays, Ryan spent the holidays with a small group of friends including six who had Christmas
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