It’s been a year since I first watched President Trump and Dr. Fauci speak about the “fifteen days to flattened the coronavirus curve”. I watched the live briefing every day. Ten days later they extended the shutdown for another fifteen. I was about four weeks out from knee replacement surgery, so my out and about time was limited already. Ruth and I did our part to self quarantine, social distance, and mask up. We stayed in Florida a month longer last spring because we could play golf. Everything else was closed, but at least we had that to pass a few hours.
When we returned to Michigan, we hunkered down and stayed to ourselves. Finally, after boredom overtook us, we bought a new pontoon. A month later we bought a condo and sold our home.
We watched story after story about the deadly virus as it expanded throughout the world. We marveled at the rate our country responded to the challenges we faced. Our manufacturers retooled to make medical equipment. The medical community tackled the pandemic with great resolve. Farmers farmed, and truckers trucked, to make sure we had the food and supplies we needed. And whether you liked President Trump, or not, he put into play the means to fast track a vaccine. We all should be celebrating that accomplishment.
If “do overs” were allowed, I think most of us would “do over” 2020. There were too many challenges, too many conflicts, too much misinformation, and I think a return to normalcy is a long way off. We may have a vaccine to help fight the coronavirus, but I’m afraid some of our leaders enjoy the turmoil. It makes them feel important. Rather than working to help us all move forward, they’re concerned with their personal agendas and the power they wield.
In spite of the trouble we’ve endured, some positive things happened. Many of us learned to be more flexible, and adapt to new challenges more quickly, than we thought possible. Some of us have taken our down time to learn new skills, live life more slowly, and focus on family. The slower pace has provided some with the opportunity to look at what really matters more closely. That’s a good thing.
As for me, a few wonderful things developed. My second grandson will be born in a couple of weeks. While this development may have come anyway, Kate and Mike’s opportunity to spend quality time with each other while being “hunkered down” may have been the catalyst required to expand their family. I don’t know if that’s true, or not, but I’m happy for them, and me.
When school was still shutdown, Eva, Brady, and Lindsay spent several January days in Florida. Lindsay continued to work remotely, just a bit more remote. Eva and Brady distance learned, and played a few rounds of golf with me. Advanced technology, and the education community’s willingness to implement new modes of instruction, made our time together possible.
For the past six weeks, Ruth and I have been able to watch, Brady, play basketball. Live streaming technology has allowed us to “tune in” to his games. We sit in our Florida living room, watching every moment. We celebrate great plays, keep track of points scored, assists, steals, and rebounds, and curse the refs in the comfort of our two recliners. Our sixty-five inch television makes us feel like we’re at the game.
I’m not proud to admit that our language gets a bit salty when things don’t go as we think they should, whether watching Brady’s game or national developments unfold. And at least once a day, events in the United States make me feel like the coach standing in the red sweater.