Ben Stievater ‘22
Events Editor
Although it’s been nearly six months, many aspects of our “new normal” continue to present challenges that can be strange and frustrating to face. From sitting next to someone in class to hitting Bar Review, things that once seemed a given feel far away, or at least vastly different behind a mask and six feet apart. We’ve been forced to connect more creatively in our professional, personal, and—we’ll say it, you smokeshows, you—romantic lives. Indeed, like a professor explaining the holding five minutes past the bell, love continues on, so we at the Law Weekly thought it would be intriguing, pleasantly distracting, and (dare we say it) heartwarming to hear how couples and singles alike are handling romance in light of all these changes. You've heard of Love in the Time of Cholera, but get ready for Love in the Time of Corona.
This week's guests are Megan Ong ’22 and her boyfriend Parker Gardner, a Physics Ph.D. candidate at Rice University.
Hi Megan and Parker! Welcome to Love in the Time of Corona. Let’s get some background. How did you meet and how long have you two been together?
Parker: Hey Ben! Megan and I met seven years ago during our freshman year at Dartmouth. Before freshmen matriculate, most come up the summer before fall to get used to the area and to meet people. Those who come from farther locations will often stay until school begins, which was the boat Megan was in. My family was living in Hanover, so I was also in town. We first met at a soccer game and got to recognize each other a few more times since there were so few people on campus at that time. A few weeks later we kissed at a party, started going on dates around town, and the rest is history.
I don’t know if I’m more impressed by the length or brains of this relationship. What has the Corona situation been like for you two?
Megan: We’re long distance, obviously, so back in the spring I had planned to go visit him in Houston and was really excited to spend a full week with him. We got a little more than we bargained for though when classes went online! I decided to stay in Houston, and it was incredible. We spent three months there, then went to visit my family for three months, then spent some time in Charlottesville until Parker had to go back to Houston in August.
That’s a big adjustment to go from long distance to with each other for ~six months! Were there any hiccups in adjusting?
Megan: I was initially worried there might be some growing pains because we’d never lived together—I mean, I had no idea if he was even the type of person to make his bed every morning or do his dishes promptly! But those worries were very quickly dispelled and, honestly, the past six months have been some of the best of my life. Coronavirus has been such a blessing in disguise for us. I will say though, it can be tough to focus in a small space when you’re with someone you love! We’ve both been working a bit better ever since Parker went back to Houston.
Parker: Agreed, except that Megan knew I was a bed-maker from college! On my end, I was really eager to make our situation ideal. I got her a desk in my apartment so she would have a place to focus and work, and we planned a lot of outings when possible and safe. It honestly felt like a vacation to some degree at the beginning, but as coronavirus got more serious, it was tough for Megan to be away from her family. Her mom is a doctor and was going into the ICU, so that was worrisome, and we were concerned that state borders might close. There was also the natural stress of living in a pandemic and both being stressed out students, but we’re pretty transparent people.
Pictured: Megan and Parker, either doing jumping jacks, or saying “I love you this much!” TBD. Photo Courtesy of Megan Ong ’22.
Let’s get ~fun~, where would your dream quarantine location be and why?
Parker: For me, a nice house in Charlottesville with plenty of space. Two offices, a bedroom, full kitchen, living room—the works. Maybe on Old Garth Road or Barracks. We drive around and look sometimes.
Megan: For me, I think it would be his parents’ guest cabin in Wyoming. It’s the perfect balance of being on vacation with family and being alone at the same time with your own space. Since Parker had a roommate and we were then with my family, it sometimes felt like we were never quite at home by ourselves during the spring and summer.
What’s your “thing”?
Megan: We like to make really long, extravagant dinners that go for hours. It’s so fun to make it and eat super late into the night. Over quarantine we made some killer risotto and chicken a few times.
The key is to keep stirring till that wrist falls off. Hit me with your favorite memory together as a couple.
Megan: When we graduated college, we used some money we had saved to bike from Germany to Italy. We carried everything on our bikes and slept in little tiny hotels along the way. It was really incredible.
That may be the most idyllic thing I’ve heard all year. Let’s get groovy. What color comes to mind when you think of your partner and why?
Parker: Red. Megan looks great in red.
Megan: Parker is for sure dark green. He loves trees and is very scientific, which screams green to me.
What do you admire most about each other?
Parker: I admire a ton about Megan, it’s honestly a ten-way tie. If I had to pick though, it would be that she’s so incredibly caring for others, despite having so much personal talent and ability that would make anyone else self-centered or less focused on others.
Megan: Parker is so curious and kind down to his very soul. He wants to know everything about everybody and everything. I’ve never once been bored in seven years.
Parker is running up the scoreboard here with these answers. What’s the first activity you’ll both do when things go back to normal?
Parker: I want to spend a long time in the cheese section of a grocery store—a fully immersive and tactile experience with smelling, touching, and scratching my chin as I ponder what to buy. Something that takes a long time in a public place.
Megan: Fly to Europe!
Last question: What is one thing you would want to say, in public, possibly in front of the whole Law School (or at least our readership), to each other?
Megan: I’m just so lucky. We randomly met our first days of college, and I ended up with the person who inspires, challenges, and makes me better. RBG has a great quote where she says she had more than a little luck in her life, but nothing equals how lucky she was to meet her husband. I feel the same about Parker.
Parker: I would say Megan is where she is today because she repeatedly made the right decisions when confronted with difficult choices in her life. She should take pride and feel confidence in her past choices and her future choices going forward. I would also say I’m so glad to see her thriving at law school with such an amazing group of friends.
Many thanks to Megan and Parker for joining us on Love in the Time of Corona! Are you a couple that’s been separated or getting creative during this social isolation period? A single who’s desire to mingle has been curtailed by COVID-19? A platonic friend or member of a family who wants to share how you’ve been making it through this together? Love comes in all shapes and sizes, and we want to hear about it! Email bes4cf@virginia.edu if you or someone you know might like to be featured on Love in the Time of Corona.
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