Goodbye 2020!

Before I say goodbye (and good riddance) to 2020, I want to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the year. And yes, there were good moments!

The Ugly

• The death toll from the pandemic – young, old, infirm, perfectly healthy, and those who were trying to save others.
• The ugliness people displayed toward their fellow human beings – whether it was due to a difference of politics; not agreeing with others about restrictions that came from a worldwide health crisis; racial unrest; or just being without empathy.
• People in residential living due to age, medical issues, dementia or Alzheimer’s and were denied visits and the touch of a loved one.
• People who were unemployed while their bills still needed paid.
• Parents trying to homeschool kids who couldn’t understand why they weren’t in school or couldn’t play with friends. (This ranks in the ugly category because if you’ve ever been a parent with a bored child – or several – it gets really ugly!)

The Bad

• Cancelled plans, trips, vacations, and gatherings.
• Cancelled in-person worship.
• Making a detailed plan for essential errands and remembering the mask, hand sanitizer, and washing hands.
• Getting calls from friends and/or family members who had been exposed and waiting on testing results.
• Indulging in boredom eating.
• Postponed medical treatments and dr. appointments.
• More time on social media and more screen time for the kids (especially when the goal is to have less screen time for them!).
• Higher grocery bills (see: boredom eating).
• High school seniors lost “rite of passage” activities such as proms, a real graduation ceremony at the end of the school year, senior trips, spring sports, and more.

The Good

• Change of focus to what is really important for yourself and household.
• Businesses that changed how their employees worked in order for them to stay home.
• Hordes of people learned new skills: sewing (to make masks); cooking (to avoid restaurants); using technology (in order to work, see family, attend virtual events).
• Places of worship began having virtual worship and people who hadn’t attended in person began attending online.
• The everyday pace of life became slower; longer walks taken; and important people and events weren’t taken for granted anymore.
• People crafted new traditions – drive-by birthday celebrations; new trick or treat ideas; and Zoom family gatherings.
• People who were financially able donated funds to organizations that helped others.
• New hobbies were found; home renovations were accomplished; books were read; and things that had been put off due to time were accomplished.

There were things on the list that touched our family but not all. We are out of the child-rearing years and didn’t have to deal with the school issues. Before the pandemic, I began a job search (with two interviews) but then everything shut down. (That was the last time – back in early March – that I shook hands with anyone.) Without being employed, my day to day life didn’t change much except I thought about what errands I needed to run and plan my grocery list to accommodate 2-3 weeks’ worth of food instead of one.

My husband is a pastor so with his three churches closed all of April, he began giving virtual sermons and weekly devotions. Even after the churches here opened again, he is still virtual for those who don’t feel comfortable getting out. We stopped eating in at restaurants, and instead we get take-out from our neighborhood place four blocks away. While it was warmer and lighter (before the time change), I joined my husband and our dog on long walks through our town.

We did have family time with our out of state daughter and her family who drove up to spend a week plus my sister and her husband who were passing through on their way back to Texas from South Dakota in their RV. Our “local” daughter (90 minutes away) was also able to visit a couple of times. We had a socially distanced and masked visit with my husband’s nephew in our driveway when he was in town.

Just before our state closed down in March, I had recently taken my sewing machine to be serviced. A week after I picked it up, I decided to try my hand at making masks. That went so well that I decided to start making quilts. I finished seven this year and gifted to all our grandchildren.

The historical society where I serve on the board remained closed a month longer in the spring than normal, but we were blessed to still receive donations, grants, and new members. All my organization meetings – except for the historical society board meetings – were cancelled. The church women’s group at two of the churches my husband pastors did have some meetings – socially distanced and masked – but that soon became harder to do this fall.

Christmas was markedly different for us. It is the first time in 39 years that I haven’t had family or children around for the holiday. For us it was quiet but we still enjoyed our traditional Tex-Mex feast.

I online shopped much more than I ever have! We ordered dog food, books for husband’s course of study classes, Christmas gifts shipped to the recipient (instead of here so I could wrap), items from my daughter’s online store, fabric, and kitchen items. I used Walmart grocery pick-up for the first time in November (our local store doesn’t do it) which meant over 40 miles to the pick-up store.

We have friends who tested positive, and a friend recently passed away. There is immense sadness when I learn of another death of a friend’s spouse or relative.

As I turn the page from 2020 to 2021, I want to wish you a Happy New Year and best wishes that moving forward, things will get better!

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