Ayana And Marshall Shepherd

40 Days 40 Nights Ayana And Marshall Shepherd

Schools closed indefinitely.... The economy spiraling into recession..... People losing jobs..... The world in a global pandemic. This reality framed the lives of everyone on the planet during the first half of 2020. Ironically, New Year's Eve brought the usual hopes and resolutions of renewal and aspirations for a new decade. However, over the span of several weeks in the United States, there was no rebirth or renewal. There was death, despair and a looming fear of uncertainty associated with a novel virus called COVID-19 Coronavirus. The virus started in the Wuhan Hubei Province of China in the fall of 2019 but quickly spread to all parts of the globe. By March 2020, much of the United States was literally "shutdown" to adhere to "shelter in place" orders at federal, state, and local levels to slow the spread of the virus. By early April, the United States was the epicenter for the virus and deaths were mounting daily. Ayana and Marshall, representing a typical suburban American family, was no different from any other in the United States. Their lives came to a grinding pause. They still had each other and that is the most important thing. What they didn't have were daily school routines, commutes to work, volleyball tournaments, 7-on-7-football practice, or even trips to the mall. Marshall is a professor and research meteorologist at the University of Georgia. Ayana is a former management consultant for a firm in the Washington, D. C. area who manages the household, leads a Girl Scout Troop, and presides over the local high school volleyball booster club. Their teenage daughter plays volleyball, is on the student council, and active in many service organizations. Their preteen son is a typical Fortnite, NBA2K, sports-playing kid. It's a good family with all of the ups and downs of four different personalities under one roof. For several weeks, this family unit sheltered in place. Ayana and Marshall, representing a typical suburban American family, were no different from any other in the United States. Their lives came to a grinding pause during the Coronavirus "Quarantine." Ayana chronicled her thoughts in a daily Facebook post. From this social media diary, the authors captured and expanded upon their experiences and decided to share them others. Within these pages, Ayana and Marshall offer the "good, bad, and ugly" of lockdown while offering lessons learned, interpretations, and opportunities for the reader to engage and self-reflect. How much of your life do you see in their experience? All proceeds, beyond printing costs, to benefit local organizations supporting families and students.