2020

The annual year end summary.  Here we are.  A tradition at LD.  You (somewhat vaguely) learn of my ups and downs over the past twelve months.  Personal, professional.  You get recaps of how world events shaped my days.  2020 would prove, in that regard, to be the most significant ever.  For you too, I would imagine.  Unless you were already sequestered in a bunker and rarely poked your head out to assess the weather.  Speaking of which, let me add a positive note - South FL had the first cold Christmas day in over thirty years! Big thing for me.  It felt as unlikely (and exciting) as when the Cubs won the World Series back in '16.

Yes, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic forever changed our lives.  In February we were still going to restaurants and plays and flying to Jersey.  In March, we were told that restaurants would close for dine in service and we couldn't travel by air.  We were asked to "social distance" and rarely leave the house.  Not visit relatives in nursing homes.  Many would lose their jobs, or, as with me, see their hours significantly reduced. Some businesses would shutter for good.  Many would contract Covid-19 (some without ever knowing it).  Many would lose their lives.   It's still happening, at a greater rate than ever.  But by now, for many, it's old hat.   

You've seen the cavalier attitudes about mask wearing.  That they don't help anyway.  Those (who tend to be conservative) still shout that their civil liberties are being violated.  That the government is using this "hoax" as a way to further control the populace.  That the thousands who died from the virus' complications had some other condition.  I've yet to understand how those of the "love thy neighbor" heart/mindset fail to understand that wearing a mask at the very least reduces the chance of air particles infecting someone whose immune system isn't as sturdy.  The social media posts continue to deflate my spirit.  My old roommate was truly pissed that Chick-fil-A forced him to eat his sandwich in the car as he announced he'd be abandoning Facebook for Parler.

Most of these folks are Trumpers.  Oh yeah, he lost the election, one of the few bright lights of the year.  Currently, he's torching an already spotty legacy in the making.  Good riddance, Donald.

The year began with the death of Rush drummer Neil Peart.  Later, Eddie Van Halen left us.  Both were hugely influential to me and went away too young.

My work schedule resumed to "full time" in May and has remained so ever since.  Thank God, and I do everyday.  Also, we moved our office from the 6th to the 9th floor.  "Movin' on up", but for far less rent (and half the square footage).  The actual move was not exactly smooth and adjustments have proven frustrating at times, but overall things have worked out well.   I still have wonderful patients and love my job.  Telehealth became far more common for the ENTs with whom I work than for us audiologists, but give it time.   Should be interesting.

You'll note that there was no holiday party entry this year.  It was canceled, reduced to a brief gift exchange in our lobby during work hours.  Lunch wasn't even provided.  Because of the Covid, they explained.

I did get to see family in NJ in early Feb., right before the shit hit the fan.   Grateful for that.  I'm not eager to fly until there's some stabilization of the pandemic.  Are we still "flattening the curve"? Anxious to see in light of the recently recent vaccination.  Can you believe one of my wife's friends, who is married to an MD, actually believes that the vaccines have tracking devices within?! No, that's your smartphone, dear.  Even the most right wing of society is unlikely to give those up.  

What else to say? This year was dominated by the coronavirus. My family and I have avoided illness and a significant hit to our finances.  But we miss seeing our peeps at church (we've only attended a handful of times since the outbreak).  We miss teaching Sunday School.  Life did change, and although we adapted many others can't (and didn't).  Help someone if you can, and pray for a much, much better '21.  And wear your damned mask.