Story by Leanne Stahulak
Photos provided by couples
Living in self-isolation or quarantine can put physical, emotional and mental strain on anybody. But these couples found a way to overcome that strain and prosper, even in these difficult times. Hopefully their tiny moments of joy can bring a smile to your face as well.
the lovebirds
Every morning at 11 a.m., 80-year-olds Tony and Judy walk out onto their driveway to wave hello to their fellow neighbors while practicing social distancing. One day, a neighbor posted a picture of East Dahlia Drive, with everyone waving and staying six feet away from one another. Except for “the lovebirds,” Tony and Judy, who stood pressed together in the picture while everyone else kept their distance. It’s hard to break old habits after almost 60 years of marriage.
budding love
When Kirsten asked out her crush on a first date, she didn’t expect a “yes, but” from him. Yes, he would go out with her, but did they really know each other that well? As the two parted ways for spring break, Kirsten asked for his phone number so they could talk more and get to know each other better. In the middle of break, their school placed them on quarantine and scheduled all online classes. Now Kirsten and Jesse have been talking every day, using the forced isolation to break down walls with each other. And after three months of Zoom calls and socially distanced dates, the two are closer (though not physically) than ever before.
quarantine celebration
For months Bob and Paula considered planning a trip for their 30th wedding anniversary. But they decided to keep it simple and go to a nice restaurant in downtown Indy instead. When the restaurant called to cancel, the two didn’t fret; even if they ate soggy takeout from the comfort of their home, they still had a reason to celebrate.
torn apart
The day before Katie evacuated Oxford, she had one last project to finish with her partner from her ballroom dancing class. The tension between them had been building all semester, leading up to this last night and this last project and this last chance to say what they really felt. As they finished watching the dancing tutorials and stood up to take their positions, Noah said there was something he had to do first. He kissed her, and the dancing project was forgotten for the night. By the next day, Katie was gone, back to Indiana. But she knew that sometime, before the semester ended, she had to go back to Oxford so they could finish their dance.
brought together
Usually around this time of year, Janae would be at school in Colorado, and her boyfriend Carlos would be 1000 miles away in Illinois. But when her school sent her home because of the coronavirus, a part of Janae leapt with joy. Because for the first time in over three years of dating long-distance through college, Janae would finally get to celebrate Carlos’ birthday with him in person, even if no one else could.
constant communication
Living with family members who are at a high risk of contracting the coronavirus meant Merrilee and Antonio couldn’t see each other in person for months. But that didn’t stop them from reminding each other every day that they loved each other. They learned to grow and love through Snapchats, text messages, phone calls and FaceTimes. They watched movies together every few weeks, staying on the phone to hear the other person’s thoughts and comments—or even just the sound of their voice. Even when their seven-month anniversary came and went, Merrilee and Antonio still celebrated over FaceTime rather than in-person. But that only made the first time they saw each other all the sweeter.
crossing borders
Abby still had two months left to work in Austria when the pandemic hit. Within two days, she’d packed as much as she could and fled back to Chicago. Her boyfriend Bob drove up from Urbana-Champaign to get her, and the two of them quarantined for two weeks since Abby had traveled internationally. She didn’t know what her job situation would look like, but she did know one thing: she and Bob would finally be able to move in together, after dating for 2.5 years. And for the rest of quarantine, the two lived together in Urbana-Champaign, settling into the new normal and the next stage of their relationship.
