SHEFFIELD LAKE, Ohio -- She texted my husband and me because she couldn’t say the words anymore. Our friend Jo was sick with cancer. On Jan. 10, she died. The day was cold and windy, with a rain that chilled my bones.
Oh, how I grieved. What a loss. But all around me life as I knew it was changing.
I hadn’t really followed world events until St. Patrick’s Day, when Gov. Mike DeWine canceled the parade and closed restaurants, etc. He meant business. This realization helped me take a deep breath, and I let go of my friend.
I have my dear husband Nick and we are here to take care of one another. My family needs me to be strong and they are strong.
Mr. DeWine, you’ve saved a lot of lives! Long live the USA.
Mary Kay Xeros is a Navy veteran, serving from 1972 to 1976.
This essay is part of Coronavirus: My Story: We also want to hear from you. Share your fears, your tips, your insights - or just how it’s making you feel right now. Did your family experience the 1918 flu pandemic? If so, how is this different? As Ohio begins to relax some of the COVID-19 restrictions, what are your concerns? We are community. Together, we can get through this. Please keep your essays to 650 words and poems no longer than 300 words, and email these or your graphic art, photographs or other submissions to forum@cleveland.com. Please include “CORONAVIRUS MY STORY” in the subject line. Questions? Send an email to Elizabeth Sullivan at esullivan@cleveland.com.