Surreal. Bizarre. Unprecedented.

I’m not sure any of these words fully capture what’s happening right now. Perhaps that’s why I find myself with the musical Hamilton on my brain. Specifically, these lyrics: “The world turned upside down.”

The last time I found myself somewhat tethered to my home was in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Then, my home had no water, no electricity, and what food we had in the fridge and freezer spoiled. This time, our water and electricity are on, my refrigerator is loaded with more food than has ever filled it before, and Wegmans—just minutes away—is stocked with fresh produce. (And toilet paper.)   

But perhaps the most important difference is this: post-Sandy, I sent my daughters for playdates while we waited for the restoration of our power. I spent time with friends, too. So that most basic of needs—the need for human connection—was filled. There is no connection in the time of COVID-19. We are socially distancing ourselves from extended family and friends. I’m sure researchers will have a lot to say about this period in years to come.

Before people hoarded toilet paper and schools shut down, I was preparing to launch a new business. My website is now live, and that’s why I’m writing this post. Should you venture over to www.jackiskole.com, you’ll see that the site has a new look. It’s no longer Dogland-centric, but there is a page devoted to Dogland and to this blog.

My posts have been few recently—you know that. Because I can’t promise I’ll pick up the pace, I will say this: please follow my Facebook author page if you don’t already. That’s where I post dog-related information and entertainment. And I’m less likely to let that lapse.

My new business is called WRITE Now. It’s a college application essay coaching service. My goal—to help prospective college students write the kind of compelling, revelatory essays that get them accepted into the colleges of their choice. I think it’s a natural coming together of my life as a journalist/storyteller and a mother who just went through the application process with her daughter.

As I embark on this new adventure, I want to thank you for all the support you’ve given me around Dogland. I also leave you with this photo of Carson. While Galen thinks she’s human, Carson thinks he’s a cat. Perhaps one day I’ll share my home with a dog who knows who he is.

Carson, my canine cat.