Editor’s note: The last twelve months (and counting) of living during a global pandemic has had an affect on us Spoonies, so I thought I would do a six-week series, asking some of our contributing authors the same questions about how they are managing spoons, one year later.

This week’s featured author: Christina Robins

SpAN Editor: What impact have these past twelve months had on you? What routines have changed, and did you create new routines?

Christina: To be honest, I found this time to be recharging. I was unable to work, but thanks to PM Trudeau, it wasn’t a worry. I wonder how much easier life would be for people with disabilities if we all got $2000.00 a month without worry. Anyway, my husband’s job didn’t change and other than having to buy cute masks and wear them, nothing really changed. I also live in a place that saw no community spread and no outbreaks.

SpAN Editor: As a creative person, did you find yourself diving into your craft more, or less so? Have you found other ways to nurture your creative mind?

It was hard to write at first. I was consumed with the news. It was like I had been waiting for this to happen. I was both fascinated and horrified with how badly some places (USA, UK, Italy, Ontario) were handling it, and how some places were just fine and smart and did all the right things. I think it was a huge window into how white supremacy has failed us. We put people in charge that have no business running things.

SpAN Editor: As a Spoonie, what about life during a pandemic helped you, and what has frustrated you?

What frustrated me the most was how easily they were able to switch to work-from-home, and how easily it would be to accommodate disabled people. How much they just ignore the needs of disabled people has been made very clear.

SpAN Editor: Is there something that you achieved that you’re especially proud of (other than surviving, which is huge)? Remember, there are no “small” wins.

I published my first novella. I have worked on a lot of my writing during this time.

SpAN Editor: A lot of people are saying we can’t really return to “normal” post-COVID, but what are some of the things you would like to do again, once you feel safe to venture out into in-person society? Also, what virtual-based activities would you love to keep in place, going forward?

One, I think masks protect us from more than just the coronavirus, and two, more hand washing and using hand sanitizer. Also, not talking in people’s face and maintaining a respectful distance at all times is something we should never stop doing.

SpAN Editor: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experiences?

I was talking to another neurodivergent person on Twitter, and we were joking about how easy lockdowns are for people who don’t like being around other people much anyway. I like that I can easily say, “Sorry, I can’t attend,” and not have to make a huge excuse for why. I wish more people would take into consideration the needs of others and not make them feel bad for not being social or wanting to spend time with lots of people. The crowds got thinner as well, so it was a lot less stress to go out and do things. I understand that a lot of people are starved for human affection, but that was something I actually enjoyed about this time: not being obligated to partake in a society I am not always comfortable in.

Thanks, Christina! It’s really interesting reading your point of view from the Northwest Territories as someone who lives in Ontario.

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Christina Robins lives in Yellowknife, NWT, in the sub-arctic with her chef husband and five rescue cats. Her writing is about women who don’t always follow the rules society has set out. Christina wants her writing to encourage conversations about love, life, and how women survive in a world that bases their self-worth on whether they have a partner or kids, or if they fit into the narrow definition of what it means to be a woman. She is a champion of LGBTQA2S rights and Black Lives Matter movements, and believes in reconciliation for the Indigenous population and the Land Back movement. She has been a practicing witch and a tarot card reader for over 25 years. Her novella, Entanglements, has just been released and is now available on Amazon.

You can find Christina on Twitter and Instagram, and she has a Facebook writer’s page where she throws down flash fictions and other odd thoughts that come into her mind, and speaks about her own writing experiences.