b'T H E NE XTCH A P TE RVicki Kahn had it all planned out. After saw people she grew up with on Zoom, 43 years working full-time in the healthcarerekindling old friendshipsand making field, she was going to retire, then travel,quite a few new ones. And for the first timespend time with her family and friends andin her life, she began pursuing interests she meet new people. As she waved goodbye toput aside for her career.everyone in February 2020, she was excitedGrowing up, I always wanted to be for her next journey to begin. a commercial artist. But then I went to Unfortunately, everyone knows whatGoucher. They didnt offer that major,happened next. One month later, the worldso I received my degree in sociology and shut down, and the COVID-19 pandemicpsychology. When I began working, I never changed the way the world has lived had time for art. ever since. Now she signed up for formal instruction Now, for Kahn, travel was off the table.in drawing and painting. She took arts and Socializing became difficult. Yet with all thosecrafts classes and began doing projects with hours freed up, this gregarious and activeher grandchildren. She even set up an art woman had to find ways to fill her days. studio in her home.Her daughter, Lisa Kahn Budlow,Drawing and painting became relaxing for encouraged her to join the Myerberg Center.me, and I loved it, even began taking classes She told her mother about its array ofin person when they reopened, she says.programming from fitness and wellness I realized that rather than the world to arts, culture and current event classes. closing down for me, it has opened up in Intrigued, Kahn became a member, takingmany different directions. virtual exercise classes, yoga and more. She 16 SHALOM BALTIMORE'