This is Death, Sex, and Money from WNYC. I'm Anna Sale.

One of the things that's been helping me, as I've been self-isolating over the past few weeks,

has been checking in with some of the people I've talked to on the show over the years,

to see how they're doing, and to inspire you for this weekend's homework assignment.

We wanted to share a check-in call I recently had with the writer, Tariah Jones,

the author of the best-selling novel, An American Marriage.

She and I first talked on the show a few years ago, and she was getting ready to move from New York

down to Atlanta, where she grew up.

She wanted to be closer to her aging parents, and she'd gotten a job on the faculty at Emory University.

Now, like most universities, Emory has moved to online instruction for the rest of the semester.

So Tariah is leading an undergraduate writing seminar from her home,

via Zoom, with mixed success.

We're doing our best, and I think that we're bonding over our effort to do our best.

But I feel that something's lost, and my biggest sadness is that I didn't get to say bye to them.

When I saw them last before their spring break, I was like,

be careful everybody, see you week after next, and then we won't ever gather again.

Are you staying mostly home now?

Yes, I'm staying home.

I am staying home. I take a daily walk around the block, but otherwise I stay home.

What have you noticed about it so far?

Well, one thing I've learned is that I enjoy my own company.

I'm grateful for that.

...