FINALITY!

Twelve months ago, to the day, we were allowed to have a shot and a beer at the bar.

Now, we wear Halloween masks on a daily basis. We buy hand sanitizer by the gallon. Is that just me? Many of us who work with the public, strip our clothes off in the garage, then run down the street naked…Oh, wait. That was the year before. Never mind.

Unprecedented is the New Norm, and for the past several months, I’ve had to tiptoe through the kitchen to the stove just to heat up pea soup, all while my spouse gives me stink eye for stirring too loud because she’s on endless video calls with other work people hiding their kids from the webcam.

Twelve months ago, when I was drinking that shot and a beer, I truly believed that this year would be different. Back then, I had foresight that the year 2020 referenced a new vision that leapt into a future full of greatness, compassion, personal growth, and maybe even a new pair of lenses.  

Unfortunately, a lot of people that blew a whistle or shot confetti a year ago aren’t with us today. Some were a result of the pandemic, others natural causes. There’s been civil unrest that led to unnecessary deaths in big cities and suburban streets. Sibling rivalries have turned into an outright battle for what each other has determined as appropriate justice. And none of this changes that hundreds of thousands of people…let me say that again… hundreds of thousands of people have died this year.

There is nothing I can say here today that can express my internal sadness for lost lives. Whether you hate your governor, or hate your president, your opinion does not change the fact that our fellow humans are no longer on this earth. Period. Also, I don’t take the increase of domestic abuse cases, loss of wages, racial injustice, or hungry children lightly.  

Did you see what I did there?

I took a bad situation and focused on the negativity. But what if we use the other side of our brains for a moment and find something positive that occurred this year, because sometimes good things come from a bad situation.

There had been a metamorphosis of the way in which business minded people adjusted, not only their marketing tactics, but branding as well. Entrepreneurs quickly adapted and adjusted the way in which they did business. Was it a perfect success? Maybe for some. Medical breakthroughs occurred. Families were able to spend time with each other. Corporate America realized that butt in seat at the office isn’t necessarily more efficient than working from home.

I can honestly admit that I am extremely grateful for 2020. I traded in Beatrice for Julia with the dealership giving me additional money for the trade-in, claiming her as a Covid exchange. We have stayed healthy; dogs included. The Rona didn’t bother knocking on the door, either because of my neighborhood streaking, or because I smoke and drink too much. This past summer, I skinny dipped under three full moons. My neighbors loved it. And I was able to see the rings of Saturn and Jupiter’s storming atmosphere through my telescope.

But honestly, the best thing that came out of the visional year of 2020 besides staying married, you guessed it–I got new glasses.

Happy New Year Everyone!