AARP – David Hochman: As America (and the world) continues to shelter in place to stem the spread of COVID-19, we are discovering that social media offer more glimpses than ever into the lives (and living rooms) of actors, musicians and journalists. Hear more on how some famed personalities are coping during the pandemic — and what they’re learning about the world and themselves in the process.
Aaron Neville, 79, soul and R&B vocalist and musician
Currently sheltering: At home with his wife, Sarah Ann Friedman
COURTESY OF SARAH A FRIEDMAN
Aaron Neville watering plants inside the greenhouse at his New York farm.
“They said that being almost 80, I would be a prime candidate to get the virus. Plus, I have asthma. I don’t want to get sick. So, I canceled my tour dates and we’ve been home and isolated on our farm in New York. Sarah runs the farm. I do the watering in the greenhouse and whatever else I can. We have about 100 chickens, plus strawberries, tomatoes and honeybees. We have enough food in our freezer thanks to two cows we used to have. Their names were T-Bone and Ribeye. Being from New Orleans, I make a lot of red beans.
“Our living room is now a recording studio. I have my piano plugged into the computer and I play free concerts on Sunday on Facebook. I’m drawn back, almost in a reverie in my mind, to playing the stuff I heard when I was a kid. I play spiritual music. I play doo-wop. It’s what I’m connecting with the most, and it’s bringing so much comfort right now.
“The rest of the time I’m doing what everybody else is doing. I’m staying in. Playing solitaire sometimes. Playing dominoes. Walking out in the yard with my dog, Apache. He’s a shih tzu Pomeranian. About 15 pounds, but he thinks he’s 100 pounds. In the afternoons, I watch my soaps. The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.
“We have a plethora of trees here. I call them my cathedraI. I’ll sit out there and I’ll pray. I pray all the time lately. I pray for my family. I pray for New Orleans. It’s sad what’s going on in my city. So many people sick. I feel for them. I feel for the whole world, wherever people are suffering. I pray and I sing. That’s getting me through. They say he that sings prays twice. What else can you really do?”