In this (short-lived, we hope) series, the PHOENIX magazine editorial and art teams share what quarantine is like for them, from who they’re sheltering in place with to where they’re ordering takeout.
Who are you sheltering in place with?
Craig Outhier – Editor-in-Chief
Quarantining with three humans, a dog, a cat, and various small aquatic animals. Spending a portion of every day polishing fly-ball skills.
Leah LeMoine – Managing Editor
I’ve been nestled in my North Phoenix home with my partner, Matt; our two dogs, Nigel and Ludwig; and my mom, Anja, who had been living with us for a few months before this craziness started.
My mom is a social butterfly who works as a teacher’s aide for students with special needs, so she’s used to being surrounded by people – and helping them – all day. The isolation has been difficult for her and she’s been going a little stir-crazy. Matt and I are introverted homebodies, so it hasn’t been as challenging for us, but we do miss meeting our friends for drinks and meals at restaurants. Zoom is fun, but it isn’t the same. I miss bringing in treats to share with my coworkers. We’ve been consumed with a lot of worry for the world around us even as we are in our safe little bubble. It is surreal. The dogs are thrilled to have us all home, of course. We’ve been spending more time in our backyard, which is a silver lining.
Madison “Maddie” Rutherford – Associate/Digital Editor
I am co-quarantining with my boyfriend, Bogar, who you would normally find cooking delicious daily specials at Welcome Diner in Downtown Phoenix. Nowadays, you’ll find him in our tiny apartment kitchen whipping up creative at-home meals, which have been keeping us both happy and healthy. Not so healthy is our half-dead snake plant, Henry, who could use some TLC in these trying times. We’re trying to hone our horticulture skills with all this extra time at home, but it’s not looking so good for old Henry.
Judy Harper – Calendar Editor
I set up my home office decades ago when I had a freelance writing gig by day and was slinging pizzas for a living by night. When the shelter-at-home notice was ordered, I pushed my floppy discs aside to make room for a shiny new laptop. Except for the piles and piles of magazines that surround me – a perpetual byproduct of the profession – it’s a comfortable space to work with a pretty view and fresh air. Break time finds me escaping to watch the lizards, chuckwallas and even a baby bunny scampering in the backyard.
Working at home can be a bit lonely, although my dedicated fiancé, Jerry, is up and faithfully at his “office” in the living room by 6:30 a.m. And while writing is a pretty solitary job to begin with, I do miss the coworker camaraderie and the home-baked goodies from cubicle-mate extraordinaire Leah, not to mention the luxury of asking the younger staffers how to mute my phone for that conference call and “What the heck is Zoom?”
#NeverTooOldToLearn
#LiveByFaithNotFear
#JudyJudy
Mirelle Inglefield – Art Director
I’ve been cooped up with my two senior cats, Little Kitty and Tube, who have been appreciating the extra treats and scratches throughout the day. From my computer, I can see that Tube, who more closely resembles a blimp, visits her food bowl about every fourth song that plays on Spotify. And Little Kitty, who begun her life as a feral alley cat, sat on my lap for the very first time in 17 years. It’s a strange time, but it’s proving to be a special time, and this warms my heart.
Angelina Aragon – Associate Art Director
I have been in the house with my family – my daughter, my sister, my mom and my mom’s boyfriend – along with our bunny, Brownie, and our doggo, Bear. He looks more like a lion now, but when he was younger, I kid you not, he looked like a bear. Quarantine life has actually been bringing us all closer. We get to spend more time together on the daily. We joke around, be goofballs and talk. We have been watching a ton of shows and movies.
Every night, we get together and say what we are grateful for. Sometimes it’s just as simple as “being healthy.” I have also discovered this thing called FaceTime, haha. I used to say I didn’t have people to FaceTime, but it’s been the best thing to help me keep in contact with my loved ones. This entire experience has shown me that we are people and we do need human contact. During this time, we all need one another. Let’s continue to work together and be kind. ❤️
