Originally, this post was going to be about how we shouldn’t speak of 2020 as a blessing in disguise or something along those lines. When I was thinking of the year in review today, however, my tune changed a little bit. I certainly don’t think this year has been a blessing or great overall. I do, though, believe there are things to be grateful for.
First off, I am grateful I was able to survive a bout of what I think was the coronavirus in the middle of January. This was before the virus had officially made its way to the US, or so we thought, but I did have flu-like symptoms yet tested negative for that. Lockdowns didn’t start until mid-March, but I have read that the virus could have started spreading in the US as early as December of 2019.
I was sicker than I can remember in a long time or ever. I had a fever of 103 degrees, and it wouldn’t go down for a couple weeks unless I was on meds. My energy was lower than ever. Thankfully, I made it out of that and was able to recover. I don’t think I have had any lasting symptoms as people have talked about those who’ve had Covid-19 getting.
For all these months, I have lamented that I can’t go to concerts or sports games like the Red Sox or Bruins in person. I never really stopped to think that I am grateful to have survived the pandemic to this point. Also, I can be happy to not have to worry about what I am going to do for my next meal or how to keep the house heated this winter. Things that you may take for granted sometimes seem more important now.
I have tried to look for some normalcy in these trying times. A couple days ago, we dug out the Advent Calendar from the garage and some Christmas ornaments, along with a couple mini trees, a larger tree, and an animatronic Santa. This Santa is one we’ve had for several years, at least 15 or more, but with its age, it has become temperamental. Unless you slap it hard at the bottom, it will not play the music and pretend to write on the list it has. Well, the button which is supposed to set it off has worked just a few times, but that has been few and far between.
The traditions my family has of decorating the Christmas tree (which we will do soon) and putting an ornament on the Advent calendar each day have brought some sense of peace and normalcy. This year has been anything but normal, but even the Santa, which doesn’t necessarily work as well as it used to, brings joy and nostalgia. Other seemingly silly things like the Starbucks for Life game where you can win prizes give me something to look forward to each day.
So, as Covid-19 stretches into 2021 soon, a vaccine is just around the corner. I have hope that it will give some kind of normalcy to us and bring an end to all the illnesses and deaths. For the first time since March, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. For now, I will try to hold onto things that bring comfort and normalcy, and I hope others can too.
Writing Through It 