My wife texted our four sons and asked how they were adjusting to COVID-19 — their eerie new reality. Our son who works from home bemoaned his cabin fever, his boredomand his imposed home confinement. Mike Oliver, an al.com columnist wrote, “I feel a loneliness down to my bones.” 

Wayne Flynt, distinguished professor emeritus at Auburn University, is despaired as his wife of 58 years died. He feels like he’s marooned, which is galling — he’s an extrovert — and he’s also been separated from his beloved Sunday school and church.Â