On March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Since then, our 'normal' has been turned completely upside down on its head.
In late February and early March, many of us had no idea that we would be entering into a year unlike any other.
Since then, the freedom to travel, gather, celebrate, speak moistly, dance closely, and shake hands with strangers has been halted.
So we asked Saultites how they spend their last 'normal' week before coronavirus lockdowns kept us largely at home and indoors.
Here's what they had to say:
Spent the week in Aruba.
— Peter Bursche
I was working.
— Kim Grant
I washed my hands.
— Nick Gridzak
I was having a weekly lunch out with my friend. Can't wait to be able to do that again!
— Tim Ladd
The last thing I did was go see Jeff Dunham ..plus a concert just before that to see Glory Days.
— Jean
The last thing we did before the pandemic was travel. We are a group of six close friends (three couples) who spent 10 glorious days in Akumal, Mexico. We had a very memorable time and arrived home March 4. The very next week, the pandemic was declared. We felt so grateful to enjoy this time together and hope to do it again when safety in travel permits.
— Helen Petrolo
My daughter had her best friend over before lockdown. She stayed those first few days, as her mom got stuff or such. . . But it was the last we saw her. . . She passed away in December. I'd rather keep this nameless though. she committed suicide. 13 years old. We're gonna miss her.
— Anonymous
Packing for a trip to Cuba for the last week of March. Planning to go visit my 99-year-old Aunt in N.S. Generally visiting friends and relatives as my mother has dementia and hasn’t seen her family in a year and doesn’t understand why.
— Linda Kehoe
Last things I did before the pandemic: I went to the casino and to a Greyhounds hockey game.That was March 11 and March 12.
— Patricia Tremblay
The last real thing that we did as a family pre-pandemic was go bowling on Saturday March 14, 2020m with my daughter Jess and son-in-law Peter. They were here in town from Sioux Lookout, as Jessica’s 30th birthday was March 16 (the day of shutdown). Little did we know that the world would still be shut down one year later! Hoping for an end to the pandemic.
— Marnie Merrifield
I had lunch at Quesado's with (SooToday's very own) Drew Armstrong.. I still blame him.. LOL
— Joseph Bertrand
Travel
— Joan DesJardins
The last normal thing I did before lockdown was live theatre. I was in a production of "If We Were Birds" at Algoma University. Boy I miss seeing and being in live theatre. I miss going to any live event - music or theatre. Looking forward to that when this is all over....
— Carol McLean
The last thing I did before the shutdowns was play with my band at a benefit concert at the Marconi. That was Feb 28/20.
— Kevin Thompson
I went to Oshawa to visit my sons. It has now been over a year since I have seen my son Kasey and his girlfriend. It breaks my heart to never see him. The other son I saw once in the summer. Christmas was cancelled.
— Deb Van Scoy
Spent two weeks travelling around New Zealand and Australia, arrived back home March 14, 2020 only to be put into quarantine and isolation ever since.
— Colleen Archibald
I was preparing to take a trip to Toronto on March 13 and the pandemic was declared a day or two before we travelled. My daughter had an audition in Toronto to model for Toronto Fashion Arts week. We arrived in Toronto, and received a reminder to be at the audition at her appointed time. About one hour later everything started to get cancelled and shutdown. Spending the weekend of March 13-15 in Toronto was an eerie feeling. The streets were so quiet, the malls were desolate, and street traffic was very quiet. March 16 everything shutdown. Crazy times.
— Cathy DiFilippo-Kiley
I went to see Jeff Lynne's ELO in concert July 23, 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
— Rob Lederer
The Friday before the first big lockdown, my son and (now) daughter in law had their stag and doe . . . Last party that many attended!
— C Dangelo
One of the last normal things I did before the pandemic was eating dinner at The Chenneux Distillery in Hessel, Michigan with friends, then did some shopping at TJMax.
— Joyce Schliephacke
My boyfriend and I were going to school, hanging with our friends, we even celebrated my birthday (which was in january), we would go to the mall and have a coffee. Just before the pandemic hit, we had been at school but missed the last two days as we both ended up with a cold bug and were going to return after the March break which turned into six months of no school.
— Diane
On March 11, 2020 I brought my daughter across the river for dinner at The Palace and some shopping at Meijer's.
— Melissa Putton
The last normal thing was BINGO. My hubby and I miss our nights out. We also miss, believe it or not, our semi annual doctor visit in Toronto for my daughter. We have been going to Toronto for 24 years with her. We got to visit family there. We haven't seen them since October 2019. Our other thing is Saturday breakfast with friends.
— Travis Reid
We went to Cuba and returned on March 12.
— Mark Allemang
I had gotten engaged on my 26th birthday (Feb. 12) and the last normal thing I recall doing is going to the local bridal shop - Ivory Lane - and trying on some wedding dresses with my mom and mother-in law. The way things have changed so much in the last year makes me realize that we all took the little things in life for granted.
— Chantal Wray
Our last outing before the pandemic was the Greyhounds game, oh how we miss those games this year!
— Shan McCracken
