By Karen King
The dawning of a new year ushers in a refreshing sense of possibilities and liveliness. I normally look forward to watching the ball drop on New Years’ eve and join the chorus of the countdown to another year. This time-honored tradition is the benchmark for closing out the old year and ringing in a new one.
As a result of this renewal, I often make resolutions for the new year; exercise, lose weight, start that project that has resided in the recesses of my mind. With the blessing of a new year my heart and mind are set on moving ahead and seizing the day and all the wonders and prospects that can unfold.
But wait! 2020? Who could have imagined the things that would unfold with the onslaught of the COVID19 pandemic? Most of us did not even know what the word “pandemic”’ meant. We sure do now. I am still grappling with trying to get my bearings in this dizzying disruption of life.
2020 in Retrospect
It has been a year since the coronavirus invaded the world and the announcement of its existence was heralded in the United States. On March 13, 2020 President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency and on that same day students at my place of employment, Fort Valley State University, were released from the campus. Faculty and staff would soon follow. Set in motion now were the safety measures of a shelter in place order to lessen the spread of the deadly virus in attempt to bring it under control.
I still recall the staggering number of infections and the death rates that were prompted on each new outlets’ leader board and the heroic efforts of the medical and frontline workers as they worked tirelessly to manage the patient tolls that had totally exhausted hospital capacity. Watching the unfolding of these events seemed surreal as it was hard to believe what was happening. Who could have imagined in March of 2019 that we would be sheltering in a hibernation state in our homes and scrounging for toilet paper and Lysol? (I am still trying to reckon with the toilet paper shortage).
Life as I knew it had been totally upended and the invasion of an unseen potential killer was on the loose like an invisible ghost randomly selecting its prey. The normal visits with relatives ceased, the weekly church services ceased, the weekly ballroom dance classes, that I so enjoyed and was becoming quite good at, ceased. Everything ceased, even work for a short while.
Then came Zoom which would eventually become the bane of my existence. There was a time when the word “zoom” would bring to my mind a fast motion or a hit song by the Commodores. The Zoom phenomenon was a pandemic waiting to explode and COVID-19 was a prime occurrence for its rewards to zenith. (Is Skype still used by anyone)? This platform has now become a household word and used by a multitude of interactors from corporate managers to everyday citizens who want to stay in touch with their grandchildren.
What I miss most
The absence of family and the ability to connect is what I miss most since sheltering in place. I love to socialize and be among family and friends. The inability to embrace and fellowship with loved ones goes against my grain. Relationships at work have even diminished as everyone remains behind closed doors as a protective measure. I knew quarantining would have an effect on me but now I wonder how deep.
Throughout this COVID experience as I continue to limit my exposure to the world, I find myself wistfully thinking about happier less stressful times like the ones I referred to earlier in this writing. Times of liveliness, wonder, and filled with possibilities.
I am grateful to have the fond memories of a trip that my family and I took to Destin, Florida the last week in February of 2020. This planned vacation was six months in the making and is a yearly retreat that we have come to look forward to during Black History Month. We enjoyed ourselves and each other immensely. Being close to the ocean can reset the mind, body, and spirit. We left Destin with a sense of renewal and high hopes for the rest of the year.
Our wildest imagination could not have prepared us for the tsunami of events that would soon unfold. The precious memories of that family getaway would be a constant topic of discussion when a phone call was the only means of connection that could be safely shared to visit one another. Gone were the family get togethers after church when we would greet each other with a bear hug and enjoy a potluck dinner that had been pulled together by all in attendance. I smile even now as I think of those times.
Looking forward
The year 2020 revealed how in the twinkling of an eye things can change so drastically. The coronavirus has spanned the world and is still blazing a storm of destruction. Thankfully, vaccines have been developed and administered that will abate the threat and spread of this horrible virus.
I am eager to get back to some degree of normalcy and move on with my life, but what will that look like? What will the stain of over a year of social distancing, and isolation leave in its wake? What will the after effect of COVID-19’s trauma impose? That tapestry is yet to be revealed.
The deafening isolation driven by COVID-19 has made me treasure the saying, “you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone” with more profound appreciation. Everyday life as I knew it has been totally disrupted. As I look back over the years I have seen come and go, none have compared to 2020 and its jolting impact. The appreciation for the little things like a touch, a meal shared with a close friend, toilet paper, have taken on a whole new meaning. The occurrence of COVID-19 has caused me to reflect on the blessings that I take for granted. This realty-check has inspired a deeper sense of gratitude for every good and perfect gift each new day brings and hopefully the years to come as well.
Abundant Life Ministries 