Strumming Along tells the story of Marge Pestka, whose family was spread across the country at the onset of the pandemic. Marge, a guitar player, relies on her ukulele club during quarantine. The group meets over Zoom to play with one another. Her story illustrates how the video chat tool became such a crucial part of human connection during the global crisis.

This is the We Lived It audio series. The Detroit Free Press and the Michigan History Center are collectIng audio accounts from the pandemic. We’ll feature Michiganders from all walks of life. Everybody has their own story to share about the COVID-19 pandemic. Submit yours by leaving a  3-minute telling at  313-288-0370.  And check out freep.com to learn  more.