The Women In Music Gathering (#WIMG) is an intergenerational artist-alliance group of women singer-songwriters and song interpreters based out the Greater Boston area. During COVID19 Quarantine, our gigs have been cancelled, our ability to play music with other musicians real-time is virtually impossible, and both the isolation and the requirements of sheltering at home have introduced all kinds of unprecedented life challenges, no matters ones age or circumstances.
WIMG Founders: Colette O'Connor, Linda Marks, Cindy D'Adamo
Cofounder Linda Marks interviews group members highlighting their works of light.
Here are vignettes of ways five members of #WIMG have been “lighting up the love” during the COVID19 Pandemic.
Linda Marks:
What does one do when one has two professions that are both face-to-face based when social distancing becomes a way of life?
#WIMG Co-founder Linda Marks, mind-body psychotherapist and singer-songwriter encountered this very predicament. Both her gigs and the shows she produced began getting cancelled in March. And as the weeks went by, gigs and shows into the summer got cancelled. As COVID19 started to creep its way into our lives in early March, it became clear that therapists could no longer see their clients in person. But teletherapy on Zoom at that time was not covered by insurance companies, removed the essential in person contact of the client-therapist relationship, and for body-centered work, could not allow for the possibility of physical touch in healing work.
Despite the limitations of virtual platforms, Linda realized that she needed to adapt and bring whatever she could to her two professions while everyone was sheltering in place. So, livestream concerts and tele therapy via Zoom and Skype became the pathways to maintain connection. Gratefully, many of her clients recognized the need to do tele therapy, and her monthly Community As Healer group could continue virtually. Linda has been doing 2 - 3 livestream performances each week, including charity fundraisers, Her weekly series “Songs From the Heart, Meditations For the Heart” livestream integrates both her professions, including many of the new songs written in quarantine. Most recently, with her monthly house concert series, the Music Salon on pause due to the pandemic, Linda created a virtual house concert series called the Music Salon Live. The need for musicians to perform is clear: within 36 hours of announcing the series, 36 musicians already were asking to play. “Seeing people tune in and comment during a livestream makes it clear how much people need live music for inspiration during this tough time,” Linda reflects.
Colette O’Connor:
When the person with severe cancer that
#WIMG Co-founder Colette O’Connor takes care of came down with symptoms similar to what you might expect for COVID19 early in the quarantine timeline, she got him to the hospital for testing. Her experience was surreal, like out of the movie “ET,” including staff in protective gear and needing to stay in her car while he was in the hospital. He got over his illness well, but three days later, Colette came down with symptoms, that left him taking care of her for the next three weeks. She describes it as “something that felt like outrageous allergies and bronchitis that wanted to be pneumonia.” To make household matters even more complicated, her 30something son, who works on the front lines as a meat cutter, got sick and the illness went to his lungs. He had to go through 2 weeks off from work in quarantine, as he recovered. As it turned out, neither Colette’s partner nor son tested positive for COVID19, but the household members surely had symptoms that makes one wonder about they 30% of false negatives in testing.
So, much of Colette’s quarantine experience involved taking care of sick people, keeping in quarantine and out of the mix, and recovering from her own illness. Once she was able to sing and breathe at the same time, she did an online concert. She completed courses for her college degree. Thoughtful poetry has been emerging. And she has been posting inspirational posts on her social media pages. “I have a big red heart on my page to thank everyone on the front lines, like my son who is working 70 hours/week just to keep our food supply going.” “Musicians and artists are essential for morale and emotion. Musicians are lighting up the love artistically” through their creative expression.
WIMG - Burren Backroom Series
Lisa Wexler:
Lisa Wexler lives in a building that is part of the Cambridge (MA) Housing Authority, where 95 - 95% of the residents are low income, including people who are food insecure, and older citizens on social security. Renovations on the building started shortly before sheltering in place became necessary, and decreased the number of residents by about 25%. Having served on the Tenant Council of her building, and aware of issues arising during construction, Lisa approached a friend who had also served on the Tenant Council about forming a tenant advocacy group that would meeting with the building manager monthly, be extra eyes and ears about the gamut of issues that were arising, and be supportive of his efforts regarding issues concerning the residents. The tenant advocacy group had met twice before COVID19 struck, so Lisa is trying to see if the group can continue to meet virtually. Safety concerns and vulnerabilities in the building have been a big focus.
Lighting up the love for Lisa has included thinking about what caring and concerned leadership means. A certain amount of structure needs to be put in place to keep people safe. But hopefully, it can be done in a compassionate way. Posters about social distancing were put up in the elevators. One woman living in the building gave another woman who needed them a mask and gloves. Some neighbors have been sharing or exchanging needed goods, like paper towels and masks. When one woman in the building said she liked Lisa’s mask, Lisa gave her two masks she had purchased specifically because they support hospital workers. All of these efforts are caring on a practical level. “It is very poignant seeing how people are helping each other in this community,” reflects Lisa. “This really is a community.”
Joanne Lurgio:
Joanne Lurgio lives with her 85 year old mom who is living with dementia. Pre-pandemic, this brought its share of daily lessons, including daily challenges to have patience and forgiveness. “For anyone who has dealt with a loved one with a memory issue, learning to let go of what was is not easy.” Creating a new relationship with who her mom is now is conscious work. Quarantine has put Joanne and her mom in closer proximity for longer periods of time. And going out even to get groceries in the COVID19 world brings the fear of bringing something back home to someone so vulnerable.
The pandemic has brought a change in her mom’s alertness and general motivation to do anything. The lack of activities and connections quarantine brings mean a decline. Before quarantine, her mom went to the senior center a couple times each week, where she saw friends and had lunch. A CNA came twice a week for personal care and engage with her mom. With those structures gone, Joanne needs to oversee all aspects of her mom’s care and well-being. Through a stroke of luck three years ago, Joanne found the house she and her mom now live in, which has turned out to be a blessing. “We had no idea we would need to be in such close proximity,” says Joanne. So, lighting up the love is very personal and relational as Joanne tends to her mom.
She has found ways to keep some music going using virtual means, including virtual choral rehearsals, webinars with a group called Songtown, and virtual RISA events. A very special ritual she created, in response to people in Italy singing out the window at 5 pm is a daily 5 pm song share. “I’ve gotten a great response,” acknowledges Joanne. “It shows music brings people healing and comfort, even if it’s one song.”
Kat Chapman:
Kat Chapman is lighting up the love through parenting her two young daughters through this quarantine time. “We don’t see anybody,” noted Kat. And explaining what was going on to her 5 year old daughter was important to prepare her for the fact that she might not be able to go back to school for the rest of the year or see her friends. Kat kept it really honest, giving her daughter the most information she would understand, including talking about helpers. Her daughter is curious, wants to know all about what is going on, and says she wants to be a doctor one day now. When she asks her 2 1/2 year old daughter what her favorite thing to do is, her daughter’s response is “to be with you momma.” Kat is glad she feels that way, because that is what they’re going to be doing.
While it is very surreal for kids to turn their friends into screen time, having a virtual story time or a virtual playdate can still give a bit of a boost. Kat is grateful for during this pandemic time is that they live in the country, where they can go outside and enjoy their surroundings. And not seeing a neighbor is a routine occurrence when living more remotely. Kat shows her daughter lots of closeness and affection. Cooking for one another, taking care of one another and spending time together are ways to share love.
WIMG at The Hearing Room
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