Matt and Victoria Kaye are the owners of downtown St. Petersburg's nearly decade-old bar and live music venue The Bends. Read our Q&A with Matt below.
How have the last five or six weeks changed you as a parent?
It has struck a real fear in me of the possibility of both myself and my wife getting this virus at the same time and what we would do with our daughter Zoey. Other than that…
Not really, my daughter Zoey is a little older than a year-and-a-half, and since she was born, my wife and I have been lucky enough to both be able to work a great deal from home, so Zoey hasn’t had to be in daycare. It's a little more tricky with taking away so many of the outdoor adventures we usually go on. But we’ve been making the house and backyard work out just fine.
Editor’s note: This portrait is part of Sandra Döhnert Bourne’s “I Miss Us, St. Pete: A social distance photo essay from afar.” Get links the the full photo essay and more Q&As here.
What do you miss the most from the “before” time?
Absolutely everything. Family, friends, beaches, our business that has been closed for six weeks.
Did you pick up any new good habits or practices that you hope to carry into the post-coronavirus world we’re about to enter?
The importance of washing hands and sanitizing after some of the most common occurrences like pumping gas and going to the grocery store will be carried on with me.
Is there any silver lining to being quarantined?
I think the silver lining to being quarantined for me personally is getting to spend so much quality time with my family. On a global scale it seems that the world is seeing pollution levels decline and in some areas, the air and water are cleaner. We can hope that will have some positive effects moving forward.
What worries you the most about our lives going forward?
The uncertainty of how long this could last and if there ever will be a vaccine that really handles the issue. I also own a non-essential business, so this shutdown has been very difficult financially. Being someone that makes a living on social interactions and revelry, it's hard to imagine a world with social distancing and looming shutdowns. I had just signed a lease on a new business I had been working on that also has been affected as well.
Do you have a message for kids, parents in the greater Tampa Bay area?
I would say to try to stay positive. These are mentally and physically trying times for most everyone, and we have to stay strong. I was born in St.Pete, I love this city, and I know we will find a way to get past this and move forward with hopefully a new found strength and appreciation for the overlooked luxuries in life like getting to hug a family member or friend.
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter to get the most up-to-date news + views. Subscribe to our newsletter, too.
