Susan Thompson

My quarantine experience in Maple Ridge, BC, has been surreal and filled with change. It was my 39th birthday on March 2, 2020 and by then I had begun to notice the world around me changing. Fear was building. On a trip to the store I sneezed as a result of my allergies and the angry looks I got startled me. People were scared of the virus.

I remember how in mid-March the art gallery that I worked at was preparing to close temporarily as a result of Covid-19. The curator and I were wrapping and returning the artworks on display before the building shut down. On March 20th I got word that I had been laid off from my job. I was stunned and devastated but held out hope that it would only be a temporary measure.

Buying necessities for my daughter and myself now felt like a horrifying ordeal. Grocery store aisles were stripped bare of many products and my anxiety was heightened by what felt like the possibility of contamination everywhere. I was afraid to touch anything or come into contact with anyone in the outside world. My home was a small basement suite which now felt doubly confining. As a single parent I struggled to cope with all of this and be the lone adult in the household. I also worried about my family in Winnipeg, many of them seniors, and wondered when it would be safe to travel and if I would ever be able to hug them again.

I made it through the early days in a lethargic daze. The bright spots for me were the spring weather emerging and the running track at a local high school. Jogging was something I could do that got me out of the house and kept me at a safe distance from others. I would bring my daughter with me and she would ride her bike as I ran alongside. I would also take her on walks at Kanaka Creek Regional Park to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature.

By late April I was starting to feel better. My daughter had adapted to online schooling and I was eager to get back to work. Instead, I got word that my position and the curator’s position had been terminated. The art gallery was closing until a vaccine could be developed, I was told. I felt shattered by this news and had several days of deep despair. Responsibility kept me going though as I had to focus on the enormous task of finding a new job in a devastated economy and also a new place to live, because our basement suite was only available for rent until the summer.

When Maple Ridge lost their only art gallery it became a less desirable city for me to live in and made the decision move to Langley much easier. Finding a rental while unemployed was not easy but I did mange to secure a nice place in Walnut Grove. I’ve been receiving enough in CERB payments to get by and am working towards finding another job. My daughter and I are both excited about our new place in a new city and that’s brought us happiness. As of today, May 24, 2020, restrictions are being gradually lifted and this past week alone I managed to visit friends, something I had missed dearly in my nearly 2 months of self-isolation. BC has done well with its Coronavirus numbers and it’s nice to not be constantly bombarded with fear. I am still mindful though and find myself preparing should a second wave hit in the fall.

The pandemic has completely upended my life, but it has also presented me with the opportunity to start over.

 Artist Statement:

In the early days of the pandemic what uplifted me was walks in nature. Away from the confines of my basement suite, Kanaka Creek Regional Park offered a beautiful outdoor experience that was still accessible. These walks helped me to deal with the depression and anxiety that I was feeling. Having lost my job to Covid-19, I now had time for long daily walks and I would bring my camera along to capture the natural beauty that inspired me. My favourite element is water and I felt calmed by the waterfalls. Water heals and is a source of life. The movement and flow signify adaptability and it’s a great motivator in a time of great change.

Artist Contact Information: 
Instagram @truesue.artist

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