Life has turned upside down for many of us during the coronavirus pandemic. A national emergency has been declared in the country, and Vermont is also in a state of emergency. Most events have been canceled, colleges have gone online, schools are closing and many are choosing to self-isolate to flatten the curve.

Eva Sollberger lives with her almost 86-year-old mother, Sophie Quest. The elderly and those with health conditions are particularly vulnerable to this virus. When Eva’s scheduled shoot was canceled, she decided to interview her mother about aging, life in the age of COVID-19 and what the past few weeks of self-isolation have been like. As this situation progresses, we wish you all good health. Stay safe, everyone.

Music: Camille Saint-Saëns, “Aquarium” Performed by Kevin MacLeod

Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions, “1940s Slow Dance”

Gabriel Fauré, Fantaisie, Op.79

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, “Waltz of the Flowers”

Shooting dates: 3/7/20 & 3/18/20

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was supported by

New England Federal Credit Union

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This article appears in Mar 18-24, 2020.

Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger has been making her award-winning video series "Stuck in Vermont" since 2007. In 2024, she won first place from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for her video, “Barbie Collector.” She received...

6 replies on “Stuck in Vermont: Sophie Quest Turns 86 During a Pandemic”

  1. Thanks so much for sharing your mom with us. I’ve always thought older people are great and your mom is fabulous! I am only 69 years old but have recently been widowed so my own death has been on my mind lately. I have so much that I want to do before I go that I don’t feel at all ready for it. I have just started self isolation this week and so far so good. I love love love your show and have been so glad that you have teamed up with the local tv station to get more exposure to it. Carry on!!!
    Bob in Pittsford

  2. Thanks so much Bob, from me and my mom! Wishing you good health and a long life too! take care, Eva

  3. Thank you, Eva, and your mom. This is beautiful. Your mom is amazing and inspirational, as are you. Love and so appreciate all the light you bring into our world, especially in these dark times.

  4. Thank you, Eva — this is such a beautiful portrait! What an inspiration your mom is, and what an amazing life she has led. And now learning Chinese! Thanks for sharing your love with us. I’m going to share this on the Cathedral Square Facebook page and get it out by Twitter as well. I know it will brighten these gloomy days for so many folks. xo

  6. Thank you sooooo much for sharing your mother with us! What a life. She has truly inspired me to get my 56 year old self out there and learn something new. As usual, the video was great. I enjoy them from afar (Tampa).

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