This is the ninth and final episode of US in the Time of Coronavirus.

We’ve surpassed 100,000 deaths in our country, and more than 3,826 deaths here in Connecticut as of Friday, May 20th. These numbers aren’t just numbers. They’re mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, brothers and sons; Grandmas and grandpas, and best friends.

This hour, you’ll hear about what made them laugh, what gave them purpose, and what deep, long-lasting marks they left of the friends and family who remember them with me.

Stay tuned until the end of the show, and you'll hear about the new show that I'm hosting, starting next week.

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May 20th was the long-awaited date in Connecticut when the first phase of reopening began after the Coronavirus caused life as we know it to be put on hold. Phase 1 allowed offices and malls to be opened with precautions; restaurants, museums and zoos could open outdoor areas as well. You'll meet three restaurateurs who readied their patios for the reopening.

Salons and barbershops were initially part of Phase 1, but with no less than 48 hours before they were to open, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the decision to include them in that phase had been reversed. Hear reactions from three stylists.

Then, you’ll hear from three big thinkers about predictions they made back in March, and how those predictions have stood up over all this time.

Finally, in our "Comfort" segment, you’ll meet a bread baker who tells us about One Bread to Rule Us All, and an 11-year-old on whether or not she sees this pandemic as a defining point in her life.

Image credit: John William Waterhouse (1902) / Wikipedia
Illustration: Chion Wolf

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A few weeks ago on this show, you heard how Gaylord Health is using the song “Don’t Stop Believin’” every time they celebrate the release of a Covid-19 patient. This hour, you'll meet one of them. After being hospitalized for 7 weeks, 42 year-old West Haven resident Anthony Spina came home last week.

Next, guns and ammo sales have set records since the pandemic started. Sure, maybe some people want long guns to hunt for food so they don’t have to rely on navigating the grocery store aisles, but as you’ll hear, many people are buying guns for home defense. Hear what a general manager of a gun store and shooting range has been seeing and hearing from his customers.

Then, we'll talk more about the "culture of fear" caused by this pandemic. You'll hear from a risk perception psychologist about how he’s seen our fears evolve and morph since the beginning of the pandemic’s life in our country.

For our "Comfort" segment, we'll take a look at the backyard chicken boom! According to NPR, “Hatcheries are reporting record-setting sales.” Find out why with a popular Suffied chickeneer.

As always, our show ends with the perspective of a kid. Meet a 10 year-old who has a lot to say about appreciating essential workers.

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