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Holly Leber Simmons, with her husband and daughter, near their home in Silver Spring.
What is your profession/involvement in the community?
My profession/community involvement: I'm the owner of Red Pen Editorial Services, a content marketing writing and editing business. I previously collaborated with a number of local businesses and nonprofits as Content and Communications Director of the Daily Do Good.
How has your life changed since the community has been impacted by Coronavirus?
I've had less of an adjustment than many since I was already working from home with my daughter (19 months), and we're not a terribly socially active family. The biggest adjustments have been having my husband home as well -- two people for the baby to seek attention from! — and grocery outings. We live next to a supermarket so we're used to being able to pop down at whim to pick up one or two things. I miss being able to do that — and not sanitizing my groceries!
Are you working more or less?
I'm a freelance writer and editor — I own an editorial services business (Red Pen Editorial). Right now I'm working about the same amount as I probably would have been, but I am more nervous about prospects for work over the next several months. Good news is, there's always a need for writers. Bad news, everyone thinks they can write. (Seriously, at least get an editor!)
What are you most afraid of?
Loss of work is probably the most prevalent fear. I feel like I don't even want to elaborate on that for fear of jinxing myself -- and I'm not a superstitious person!
Dying alone of coronavirus and leaving my 1-year-old motherless is also up there, but we are being very careful with precautions so I'm... cautiously optimistic? But I'm also clearly anxious because I get really snappish at people who aren't being appropriate about social distancing. Like when someone is walking toward me on the sidewalk and I step as far as I possibly safely can to one side, even on to the grass (with a stroller!) and the other person doesn't go as far as they can to the opposite side, I get annoyed. Even if my movement has created the mandatory 6-foot separation, I still feel like the other person should also move aside, insofar as they are physically able, to demonstrate that they are also making the effort.
Also, sometimes I'm afraid of running out of toilet paper.
What are you most hopeful for?
Maybe that the stay-at-home will emphasize the feasibility of remote work, therefore creating more flexibility in general. And perhaps that my husband and I will be better about making coffee at home and not buying it out most days.
What has been the most challenging part of this experience for you?
As good as it is to have my husband home — both to help with our daughter and because I enjoy his company — it's been a challenge. I've set a routine, a way of doing things, and it can be a challenge to fit another person into that, especially if he thinks something would be better done a different way. I'm also used to taking care of my daughter myself during the day, so I feel a little guilty sometimes when I let him do it — like that's my job. Which is ridiculous, admittedly. Our daughter is also entering a new developmental phase (she'll be 20 months on May 8), so she's been a bit more of a handful. Since we've began sheltering in place, she's learned to open doors, reach tables, climb on chairs, and remove articles of clothing -- sometimes all within about 3 minutes of one another.
The other big challenge is being able to have sufficient time outdoors, especially time we can let the baby loose. We live in a high-rise on a busy street, so there's a lot of navigating public space -- hallway, elevator, lobby, just to get outside, and then when we are out walking on the sidewalks, plenty of people are not sufficiently conscientious about keeping an appropriate distance, so I get nervous and irritable about that. I'm from New York, so I grew up in apartments, but I have never wished for a house with a backyard (and a fence) more!
Is there anything – even a tiny thing – you enjoy or like about sheltering in place?
I think I've put on a bra three times in the last month, so that's been pleasant. I also appreciate all of the excellent entertainment and education content that's been made available online. I watched a 4-hour "gala" by the Metropolitan Opera, which is one of the things I miss most about New York.
What do you think society as a whole will learn from this experience?
Honestly? Not much. Maybe we'll all learn to wash our hands more as a matter of habit. That would actually be a very good thing.
How are you coping with stress/taking care of yourself?
You mean, other than eating a LOT of chocolate and staying up too late watching British murder mysteries? I spend a lot of time with my daughter, reading and playing. I nurse her a lot -- it's good for her immunity and is a stress reliever for me — as long as she's not biting/pinching! We listen to a lot of classical music. I'm not a very active person, but I need to be. I've started trying to do a yoga video — just five minutes — every day. My focus is on trying to develop a good habit. And Zoom therapy appointments have been helpful as well.
When future generations ask, what will you tell them about this time in your life?
Hopefully I can tell them that our family got through it relatively unscathed.
What would you like your friends and neighbors in Silver Spring/Montgomery County to know?
To my friends, I look forward to seeing you in person again and chatting over wine/fries at Locavino or coffee at Kefa or Bump n' Grind. To neighbors, stay safe and healthy, and please conform to ALL the social distancing rules, for all of us.
My profession/community involvement: I'm the owner of Red Pen Editorial Services, a content marketing writing and editing business. I previously collaborated with a number of local businesses and nonprofits as Content and Communications Director of the Daily Do Good.
How has your life changed since the community has been impacted by Coronavirus?
I've had less of an adjustment than many since I was already working from home with my daughter (19 months), and we're not a terribly socially active family. The biggest adjustments have been having my husband home as well -- two people for the baby to seek attention from! — and grocery outings. We live next to a supermarket so we're used to being able to pop down at whim to pick up one or two things. I miss being able to do that — and not sanitizing my groceries!
Are you working more or less?
I'm a freelance writer and editor — I own an editorial services business (Red Pen Editorial). Right now I'm working about the same amount as I probably would have been, but I am more nervous about prospects for work over the next several months. Good news is, there's always a need for writers. Bad news, everyone thinks they can write. (Seriously, at least get an editor!)
What are you most afraid of?
Loss of work is probably the most prevalent fear. I feel like I don't even want to elaborate on that for fear of jinxing myself -- and I'm not a superstitious person!
Dying alone of coronavirus and leaving my 1-year-old motherless is also up there, but we are being very careful with precautions so I'm... cautiously optimistic? But I'm also clearly anxious because I get really snappish at people who aren't being appropriate about social distancing. Like when someone is walking toward me on the sidewalk and I step as far as I possibly safely can to one side, even on to the grass (with a stroller!) and the other person doesn't go as far as they can to the opposite side, I get annoyed. Even if my movement has created the mandatory 6-foot separation, I still feel like the other person should also move aside, insofar as they are physically able, to demonstrate that they are also making the effort.
Also, sometimes I'm afraid of running out of toilet paper.
What are you most hopeful for?
Maybe that the stay-at-home will emphasize the feasibility of remote work, therefore creating more flexibility in general. And perhaps that my husband and I will be better about making coffee at home and not buying it out most days.
What has been the most challenging part of this experience for you?
As good as it is to have my husband home — both to help with our daughter and because I enjoy his company — it's been a challenge. I've set a routine, a way of doing things, and it can be a challenge to fit another person into that, especially if he thinks something would be better done a different way. I'm also used to taking care of my daughter myself during the day, so I feel a little guilty sometimes when I let him do it — like that's my job. Which is ridiculous, admittedly. Our daughter is also entering a new developmental phase (she'll be 20 months on May 8), so she's been a bit more of a handful. Since we've began sheltering in place, she's learned to open doors, reach tables, climb on chairs, and remove articles of clothing -- sometimes all within about 3 minutes of one another.
The other big challenge is being able to have sufficient time outdoors, especially time we can let the baby loose. We live in a high-rise on a busy street, so there's a lot of navigating public space -- hallway, elevator, lobby, just to get outside, and then when we are out walking on the sidewalks, plenty of people are not sufficiently conscientious about keeping an appropriate distance, so I get nervous and irritable about that. I'm from New York, so I grew up in apartments, but I have never wished for a house with a backyard (and a fence) more!
Is there anything – even a tiny thing – you enjoy or like about sheltering in place?
I think I've put on a bra three times in the last month, so that's been pleasant. I also appreciate all of the excellent entertainment and education content that's been made available online. I watched a 4-hour "gala" by the Metropolitan Opera, which is one of the things I miss most about New York.
What do you think society as a whole will learn from this experience?
Honestly? Not much. Maybe we'll all learn to wash our hands more as a matter of habit. That would actually be a very good thing.
How are you coping with stress/taking care of yourself?
You mean, other than eating a LOT of chocolate and staying up too late watching British murder mysteries? I spend a lot of time with my daughter, reading and playing. I nurse her a lot -- it's good for her immunity and is a stress reliever for me — as long as she's not biting/pinching! We listen to a lot of classical music. I'm not a very active person, but I need to be. I've started trying to do a yoga video — just five minutes — every day. My focus is on trying to develop a good habit. And Zoom therapy appointments have been helpful as well.
When future generations ask, what will you tell them about this time in your life?
Hopefully I can tell them that our family got through it relatively unscathed.
What would you like your friends and neighbors in Silver Spring/Montgomery County to know?
To my friends, I look forward to seeing you in person again and chatting over wine/fries at Locavino or coffee at Kefa or Bump n' Grind. To neighbors, stay safe and healthy, and please conform to ALL the social distancing rules, for all of us.
Interview conducted April 22, 2020
Want more? Check out our archives!
Yvette Tousley
Hannah Sholder, Koiner Farm
Evan Glass, Montgomery County Council
Christy Batta
Dr. Todd Galkin, DDS
Boosaba Tantisunthorn
Melanie Padgett Powers
Rachel Bauchman, musician
Zed Mekonnen, Zed's Cafe, Silver Strings
William Ferguson
Amina Ahmed, Handmade Habitat
Prayag Gordy, Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Chips
Liz Brent, Go Brent, Silver Spring Cares
David Fogel, Bump 'n Grind
Dr. Lilly Walker Shelton
Warren "Buck" Buckingham III
Linda Perlman Tabach
Dan Reed, Just up the Pike
David "Moe" Nelson, NOAA, King Teddy
Mike Diegel, Source of the Spring
Lene Tsegaye, Kefa Cafe
Want more? Check out our archives!
Yvette Tousley
Hannah Sholder, Koiner Farm
Evan Glass, Montgomery County Council
Christy Batta
Dr. Todd Galkin, DDS
Boosaba Tantisunthorn
Melanie Padgett Powers
Rachel Bauchman, musician
Zed Mekonnen, Zed's Cafe, Silver Strings
William Ferguson
Amina Ahmed, Handmade Habitat
Prayag Gordy, Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Chips
Liz Brent, Go Brent, Silver Spring Cares
David Fogel, Bump 'n Grind
Dr. Lilly Walker Shelton
Warren "Buck" Buckingham III
Linda Perlman Tabach
Dan Reed, Just up the Pike
David "Moe" Nelson, NOAA, King Teddy
Mike Diegel, Source of the Spring
Lene Tsegaye, Kefa Cafe
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