Ben Stievater ‘22
Events Editor
Although it’s been 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 Abby Porter ’22 and Andrew Tynes ’22.
Hi Abby and Andrew! Welcome and thanks for kicking us off this semester. Let's start with some basics. How and when did you two meet?
Abby: Hi, Ben! We met two days before classes started 1L, getting drinks at Sedona with a group of people and then later that week at a party. We spent most of the party talking and became friends. After about a month, we attended another party together as friends, but that night something clicked and there was a clear, natural shift in our friendship toward a relationship. We’ve been officially together since November!
Ah, all roads and relationships lead to Sedona. Let’s talk COVID. What’s your relationship been like during it?
Andrew: Back during spring break, we had been out of town visiting her parents and got back to Charlottesville right as the semester shifted online and things were shutting down. We had to decide pretty quickly what our quarantine situation would look like. We decided to stay put here together. We’ve now spent more of our relationship in quarantine together than not.
Abby: It’s been a (successful) trial-by-fire. We had a good number of friends who were here over the summer that enabled us to have some other social outlets, but we spent a ton of time together and learned a lot about each other in the process.
Pictured: These two beauties lit up the stage at Barrister’s this spring.
Let’s hear it! How would you each describe the other in a word or phrase?
Abby: Andrew is very curious! He loves to experience and explore new things. I’ve learned and experienced a lot of things with him that I normally may have overlooked on my own. The other night we watched a Fellini movie that he had been wanting to watch. I ended up loving it, but wouldn’t have ever thought to watch it had it not been for Andrew.
Andrew: There’s a funny metaphor for our relationship that we talk about a lot. I’m like a whale and Abby is like a barnacle. We have a very symbiotic relationship and are dependent on each other, but in different ways. I’m pretty introverted and would say Abby brings out the extrovert in me when it comes to socializing. On the other hand, Abby is super extroverted, which has obviously been more difficult these past few months. In the absence of those normal social outlets, I think I’ve been able to be a sounding board and guide as she adapts to this more introverted lifestyle we’ve all been living.
That’s dolphinately a good metaphor. Let’s pivot back to Corona for a second. I bet spending all that time together could have been overwhelming. Did you have any practices in place to keep things running smoothly?
Abby: Yes! I think we’re good at sitting together in the same room and doing our own thing, but we would plan out set activities to look forward to each day. I think the separation of those two things helped keep work hours for work. Communication about COVID risks was also crucial. We both realized that because we were quarantining together we had a mutual responsibility to be smart and safe. We made a habit of always keeping each other in the loop and letting each other know if we were ever uncomfortable with respective personal plans.
Andrew: Meetings, networking calls, and big projects at work were fairly easy to do separately. But when things at work were slow, there was definitely a temptation to socialize with each other or do something impromptu. But, going back to the introvert/extrovert dynamic, I occasionally do need time alone to recharge my batteries. She’s the opposite and recharges by being around people. We definitely had to communicate through this difference in personality and practice.
Let’s do a lightning round! Best Charlottesville date spot?
Andrew: Ten. Great sushi and vibe. It’s shockingly fancy and city-like. I love the rural charm of Charlottesville, but Ten flips that on its head and makes you feel like you’ve escaped to Manhattan for the night.
Abby: Lampo! Best pizza in Charlottesville and incredibly cozy.
Favorite memory?
Answer: It’s tempting to pick a big activity or moment, but our favorite times are the little things—sitting on the porch with a glass of wine, drinking coffee, or making new recipes for dinner. There haven’t been a ton of big moments during this summer, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been any good ones.
First activity you'll do or place you'll go once all social restrictions are lifted?
Answer: On a micro-level, something fun and around a ton of people—maybe axe-throwing at a brewery. On a macro-level, though, we’ve been planning an eventual trip abroad. We’re torn between Peru, Japan, and Italy.
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?
Andrew: I would say that Abby is a rare type of moral and ethical person. I think in today’s society it’s easy to either go with the flow or to act out of a desire to impress others via performance. I think it’s very rare to make the right decisions for the right reasons. Abby always acts with righteousness. She’s got a clarity of spirit that draws people to her.
Abby: I would say I value how Andrew comes to everything with passion and an opinion—he genuinely cares about what he believes in and isn’t apathetic about anything. He’s got an admirable, stalwart spirit when it comes to his views, and he stands up for what he believes in. I would also say that I’ve learned a lot of things from him. He thinks outside of the box and isn’t really bound by traditional thinking. He’s an excellent ground-up thinker who isn’t satisfied by band-aid solutions. Finally, I would like to formally apologize for preventing him from finishing The Sopranos this summer by forcing him to watch Parks and Rec every night with me instead.
Many thanks to Andrew and Abby for kicking us off this semester 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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bes4cf@virginia.edu