2020 was an ummmm unusual year to say the least. It’s the first year in some time that I haven’t left the country. I’ve only traveled more than 250 miles from my home one time [and that was pre-corona-v]. A global pandemic continues to ravage the world with only some people believing its real. [spoiler alert: it’s real] And for the first time, I tried a no-spend month challenge and failed miserably by buying a new car. So clearly the portal to another dimension is still open.
Corona V
In late 2019, a seemingly random virus jumped yet again from birds to humans. This has happened before–even recently– with SARS, MERS, bird flu, ect, and while dangerous, none of these were globally devastating. In late February, while in DC, my friend and I visited one of the best, most authentic Chinese restaurants in the city. [I was reunited with the magical green beans that I discovered in the authentic Chinese restaurant in Rwanda of all places]. My friend Taylor remarked that normal Friday nights always result in a wait for a table. I mused that our reason for being able to waltz right in was this new “Wuhan virus”, and people boycotting all things Chinese.
The Spring
Fast forward a mere three weeks later and the virus now known as Coronavirus, Covid-19, corona, ‘the rona’, or the official name SARS CO-V 2, arrived to the US in numbers large enough to cause ‘lockdown phase 1’. To be honest, lockdown did not affect me too much. As an ‘essential health care worker’, I still had to go to work each shift; as a non-parent, the sudden switch to e-learning did not affect me other than my own grad school program transitioning to fully on-line. In-person dining in restaurants ceased, but I rarely ate out and takeaway was still available. Grocery stores also remained open as did home improvement stores. Other than one canceled trip to Knoxville and my local YMCA closing, my spring was the exact same minus Corona-V popping up.
At first, the governor closed schools until March 31, the April 15, then April 30, then finally for the entire school year. People protested the cancelation of proms, spring sports, and in-person graduations (all to be fair, our state’s largest school district STILL had in person graduation). I started some small projects around the house and lovingly called them quarantine projects. I lost count after #5, but think I’m up to 8 or 9 [and still going].
The Summer
By summer, many people were thinking corona-v was on her way out. Non-essential stores had re-opened, restaurants and bars could serve in person again, and some people were back in their offices. And that’s when corona-v showed up on my doorstep. Obviously, I didn’t die, but I was as sick as I ever remember being. I had high fevers [>103], difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and a distinct lack of appetite, ect. It was touch and go for about two weeks, and I’m still not at pre-corona-v fitness levels.
I planned a socially-distanced vacation with my decidedly non-socially distancing parents and it was— definitely different. It’s very weird to see generational difference play out before ones very eyes. I’m grateful it was to a small beach town instead of say Charleston or Myrtle Beach.
Also more drama concerning schools re-opening, virtually, partially, not at all, full-time, or some variation of all. All I can say is I’m glad I’m not a parent or teacher.
The Fall
Elections happened as they do every other year on the first Tuesday in November, yet even on December 1 we are still talking about it since the out-going president refuses to believe the results. As a result of said elections, I’ve promised to stop avoiding Atlanta like the plague and eschew Charleston for Savannah (not overly difficult as Charleston and I have a complicated relationship).
Corona-V is kicking up her heels again and overwhelming my friends in medicine despite Moderna, Pfizer, and Astra-Zenica all making [at this point] extremely competent vaccines. As a health care worker, I’ll probably be in the first batch of people to receive and since I’ve been vaccinated against nearly everything under the sun, and haven’t turned to Frankenstein yet, I’ll most likely sign up to be injected.
When future historians write the chapter about 2020, it will definitely be one of the more unbelievable 10 months in history.
Ok. hear me out. I heard this song exactly once and I about died laughing. If it isn’t an exact musical representation of 2020, idk what is… here’s low-key fuck 2020 by Avenue Beat