2020 Year in Review (The Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic)
1. What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before?
This year, we had a very typical January and February. Over break, we enjoyed a few days in Boston with the kids, touring Harvard and Fenway Park and catching the view from the top of the Prudential Center. Then, on March 13, we learned that our schools were shifting to remote instruction due the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While the closures were forecasted to be short term, we did not return to school until the fall. With Dave and I teaching remotely, along with monitoring the kids' schooling, was a challenge. In some ways, it was such a weird time that was both stressful and boring at once. We were safe in our homes, but there was and continues to be so much uncertainty.
This year, we had a very typical January and February. Over break, we enjoyed a few days in Boston with the kids, touring Harvard and Fenway Park and catching the view from the top of the Prudential Center. Then, on March 13, we learned that our schools were shifting to remote instruction due the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While the closures were forecasted to be short term, we did not return to school until the fall. With Dave and I teaching remotely, along with monitoring the kids' schooling, was a challenge. In some ways, it was such a weird time that was both stressful and boring at once. We were safe in our homes, but there was and continues to be so much uncertainty.
We also have celebrated most of the holidays and birthdays with just the four of us. The summer did offer chances to see family and friends outside, but this year has been the strangest one yet. While it has been lonely in many ways, our family of four has grown closer.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolution for 2021 (as in all of the years past) is to live in a state of gratitude for all I have been given, most of which I do not deserve. And also to not let the decisions of others make me angry. I also want to add that I need to make quality time for myself more of a priority this year.
My resolution for 2021 (as in all of the years past) is to live in a state of gratitude for all I have been given, most of which I do not deserve. And also to not let the decisions of others make me angry. I also want to add that I need to make quality time for myself more of a priority this year.
3. What places did you visit?
Boston! We had originally planned to go to North Carolina in April and July, Niagara Falls, Maine, and Cape Cod.
Boston! We had originally planned to go to North Carolina in April and July, Niagara Falls, Maine, and Cape Cod.
4. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?
Ummm normalcy? I would like at least some semblance of the life we had before this. I miss our family and friends. I miss travel. I miss dining out. I miss seeing people's faces.
5. What dates from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?
3/13: School closed
8/9: Cecilia turned 5
8/22: LX turned 8
8/9: Cecilia turned 5
8/22: LX turned 8
6. What were your biggest achievements of the year?
Honestly, surviving largely unscathed. While this year has been hard, none of us have been infected. I did have a scare where I needed a test, but I was negative. I just hope we all make it out of this!
Honestly, surviving largely unscathed. While this year has been hard, none of us have been infected. I did have a scare where I needed a test, but I was negative. I just hope we all make it out of this!
7. What were your biggest failures?
Two of my failures are not blogging and not exercising/eating well! I could make excuses, but the truth is that neither are a priority right now.
8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No :-)
9. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
We tentatively booked our trip to Maine for 2021, assuming it is safe to go.
10. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
a bit of both actually
b) thinner or fatter?
fatter
c) richer or poorer?
richer
11. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I had made more of my time at home. I have two modes: super planner/doer and sloth. I was more sloth than I wanted to be. Granted, there was a lot we couldn't do, but I could have walked more, run more, and hiked more.
12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating bad food!
Eating bad food!
13. What were your favorite TV programs?
Gossip Girl
Dynasty
New Girl
14. What did you do for your birthday in 2020?
I went to school, and we had Chinese takeout. Lucas had his tae kwon do assessment so we worked around that.
15. What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020?
This was from 2015, but perhaps more poignant now: To try to be happy with what you have, where you are and who you are with. I am someone who is always chasing the next big thing, but there is a lot to be said for accepting where I am, especially since it is pretty great.
16. My goals for 2021:
I hope to be able to see my loved ones and travel.
Happy New Year!
