How the Coronavirus Pandemic has changed our lives.

Myself at Hershey Park. Almost all businesses now require you to wear a mask, which I happily comply with.

In January of this year, we heard of a virus that originated in Wuhan, China. As it spread throughout the Eastern Hemisphere and Europe, we never thought it was going to arrive in the United States. While many of us were not aware of this, a virus called the Corona virus, scientifically termed as COVID-19, would change our lives in a few months.

I lived my life as normal as can be in 2020. The new year rang in, and I was off to my job for a closing shift on New Year's Day. I attended a New York Islanders away game in at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, against the Devils. I reported at two Stepinac basketball games, and got to see them win the Diocesan Championship against St. Raymond's at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx. I went to two Brooklyn Nets games. Both of them were at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn. The first was against the 76ers, which they lost, and the second was against the defending champion Raptors, which they won.

Then one day in March, a lawyer from New Rochelle fell sick with it, and spread it to many others.

On the weekend of March 6-8, I came home for what would seem to be like the one last week of normalcy, before the world would go crazy. I remember heading to mass on Saturday night and then eating at dinner not thinking too much about this. Ironically, the next day I went to the Queens neighborhood of Corona, to eat at a restaurant , which would be the last time I would eat at a restaurant for over 100 days.

Over the next few days, everything just kept getting worse. On Wednesday, March 11, I remember being so thrilled that Anthony Davis missed the final shot, therefore the Nets beat them on the road. I remember getting the notification on my phone that the season would be suspended after Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus.

The CHSAA played two games of their city championship at Archbishop Stepinac. These two games had absolutely no fans in the building. It was so depressing to see a game that should have been a championship environment , like that. Stepinac was supposed to play Iona at Mount Saint Michael's, and that game was cancelled.

You could only ponder at the sadness of college basketball fans, especially those of St. John's and Creighton, when their game was cancelled at halftime. Teammates crying when their season was abruptly cancelled.

Slowly , every in-person institution would convert to virtual services. This was a new low for everyone as you could not even get together, with all the social distancing rules in place.

Many students began to fall helpless since their graduation ceremonies were being cancelled.

The feelings of sadness we would see over the next few days. Cities and towns cancelled St. Patrick's Day parades like dominoes, making that day a rather eerie and sad one.

Over the next few weeks, all we heard was the word cancelled. You could not even go to church. People lost their places to vent. Parks were being closed. All we heard about on the news was the worst part was not even coming for a few weeks.

All we could do was sit and wait. Many of us felt hopeless. People lost their jobs, and people lined up at food banks.

During this time, many people began to give food donations to first responders, and essential workers. People were seeing a light that reflected the good of society.

Closer to the reopening process being started, we heard all about the new normal.

During The Last Dance, the NBA ran several ads saying we will be back. Many commercials talked about being stronger than ever.

We are now taking some steps forward. When Phase 2 started, many of us were able to go to outdoor restaurants again, and many parks were opened. This gave us a small sense of normalcy.

The Archdiocese of New York opened its doors for public mass again, uniting members of the community, six feet away from each other, that is.

For me, just getting to see my grandmother again, was huge.

When I went upstate, I got to see my aunt and uncles. Even though many things were closed, I was grateful to be in the Adirondacks, and to see the true beauty and magnificence of the planet God has given us.

I went on a trip to Pennsylvania, and had the best time for the first time in a while.

The MLB is back on, and even though there are no fans, we can still marvel in this great sport.

The NBA is back on as well, and we are just happy to see the Brooklyn Nets crush every team they play.

I mentioned the word community a few paragraphs back. You never know how great your community is until there is a time of struggle.

As the clock ticked down in our football league title loss to Cardinal Hayes in 2016, I could feel a sense how all the guys in red jerseys around me, and everyone right behind us were our family.

There is a saying, "You won't miss it, until you won't have it anymore." So here is a solution, for the things in life we have now, be grateful and proud of them. We cannot take everything in life for granted.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saints Peter and Paul, and Saint Michael the Archangel, Ora Pro Nobis!