2020 In Review
January
The winter doldrums have set in early this year, and what with working from home, I am even more doldrum-y. I’ve got the funk, ya’ll. Bootsy Collins-level.
I spend a good portion of the month looking for a new job, networking and applying all over the place. No bites. I do have good friends who encourage me, though. “You can do it!”
Fortunately, the Australian Open is here to save the day. I spend two weeks every January glued to the TV at 2 am watching tennis. I want to say that I spend the hours on the treadmill, but truth is, I am hunkered down in my favorite chair napping through most of the matches. Even when January lasts 6 months, like it does in 2020, I enjoy these two weeks, although I’m glad to return to a normal sleeping schedule when the tournament ends.
I’ve selected a church to start going to, although my attendance is spotty so far. It’s hard to get back into a routine when I’ve been a heathen this long.
February
My favorite tennis player Novak Djokovic wins the Australian Open championship! Later that same day, the Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl, and they win too! A friend texts me: “2020 is your year, kid.” We shall see. February certainly is looking up. (Cue the horns of doom right about now.)
I see my first concert of the year: Allen Stone down at the Granada. It’s standing room only for general admission, and the place is packed, naturally. But it is one of the best concerts I think I’ve ever seen. I wake up with Allen Stone earworms in my head for a week. Totally worth it.
In early February, I foster two dogs, Baxter and Tess. I endure the peanut gallery on FB predicting I will foster-fail these ones like I did Winston and Trixie. It doesn’t work; I can barely handle the dogs I have already.
My birthday comes and goes, like it’s done 45 times before. I go over to Heather and Justin’s for dinner; they smoke some delicious chicken-bacon lollipops. Of course, I remember the food.
March
In March, the Great COVID-19 Pandemic really gets its teeth in and everyone – I mean the WHOLE WORLD – is urged to shelter-in-place indefinitely until this thing eases up. It’s — not to put too fine a point on it — a shitshow. Panic buying, hoarding, isolation, market fluctuations, people dying, events cancelled (including all tennis) – the whole nine yards. I have a job lined up that will get me back in the office, and I’m the top candidate – until they put a freeze on hiring. The good news is, I’m already isolated and lonely from working from home, so not much changes in my life, if that’s a good thing. Funk level: Rick James.
April
The grey skies and showers of April suit my mood. The isolation and worry from the pandemic gets worse. Turns out, I don’t handle pandemics well. WHO KNEW?
But I participate in a couple of virtual happy hours with friends, which are rollicking good times.
I also foster a couple of pups, Miley (who I fall in love with) and Owen (who I don’t so much). I’m enjoying fostering Westies, and it helps with missing Daisy and Alfie. Daisy’s been gone a year now. I still cry when I hear “You Can Close Your Eyes” by the wonderful James Taylor, but the fostering and Winston and Trixie help.
May
Tennis is still cancelled. BOO. I enter in a contest to win a trip to the US Open and a VIP meet ‘n greet with my favorite player, Novak Djokovic. There is not a chance in hell I’ll win, but I feel lucky anyway.*
It’s a pretty quiet month, dog-wise and rescue-wise. I enjoy the break.
Church attendance is VERY spotty, given that no one can attend in person. I attend online but don’t sing the worship songs because the dogs start howling when I do.
*I do not win the contest, shockingly.
June
I take in a foster dog, Prince, who, having just been neutered, wants to hump everything in sight. Poor Winnie and Trixie don’t know what to do, but we manage to get him adopted fairly quickly to avoid too much molestation.
I have an interview for a cool job that is completely out of my league, but hey, if they want to talk to me, I’ll talk to them! I’ll talk to anybody at this point, even the car warranty salesman who calls almost daily. Nothing comes of it.
Covid cases continue to rise in the States, resulting in more shutdowns and more debates about wearing masks or not, which is wearying. 2020 continues to be definitely NOT my year, kid.
July
I have a cute foster dog Gus for a couple of days. He’s adopted by a nice couple from Wichita Falls. He’s a totally awesome dog, and I actually think for a few seconds about getting a third one, but I decide that’s a crazy decision since I can barely afford the two I have, and bed space is limited enough.
I go camping in late July with the extended Reed family and have a blast. We had rain, sun, good food, good fun, and a week after getting back, I’m peeling, itching and already ready for another round.
August
In mid-August, I drive myself and Winston and Trixie up to MO to visit Mom and Dad. Dad’s not been feeling well, but at one point I look out the window, and he’s up on the garage roof trimming trees. “Dad!” I gasp. “What are you doing?”
“Trimming trees,” he responds, like he’s not almost 80 years old and feeling unwell most days.
On August 22, it’s been a year since Alfie died. My heart still hurts, but it’s bearable.
September
Tennis is finally back! Due to the Covid pandemic, my favorite Masters 1000 tournament (Cincinnati) is played in NYC. Djokovic wins it, but then is defaulted from the US Open for a terrible mistake of hitting a line judge with a tennis ball. It’s hugely disappointing, given that he was injured last year. But then he goes ahead and just casually wins the Italian Open, so overall, a good three weeks with some fantastic matches.
I foster two bonded Westies, Sugar and Spice, for 13 days. It’s a zoo around my house, but it livens things up. Both dogs insist on sleeping on top of me, so it’s a crowded couple of weeks in my bed.
October
My dad is diagnosed with Heart Failure and slated for open heart surgery during a visit to Texas, which is actually a blessing in disguise since the care down here is better than in MO. But I am stressed, to say the least.
November
Dad continues to recover in the hospital and at my home after open heart surgery. He does remarkably well for having his chest opened up and his heart stopped.
I decide to decorate for Christmas early this year and start putting up my stuff the second weekend of November. Mom and Dad, who are staying with me following my dad’s surgery, seem to appreciate it. I am cooking up a storm and turning into a regular Chef Shasta.
The week of Thanksgiving, Heather and I drive Mom and Dad back home to MO and enjoy a small Thanksgiving with my brother Ted.
It looks like the new job is going to pan out, but I’m afraid to rejoice until I know for sure.
December
The new job pans out. I’m slated to start January 4 and am very happy about that.
My parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. I’m so proud of them.
I celebrate Christmas with my sister, brother, brother-in-law and nieces.
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Overall, 2020 is a hard year. 0 stars - maybe 1: would not recommend. There are things that I haven’t covered in this post that were tremendously difficult to bear, but as a friend texted me, “This is the year where we are grateful for what we have.” Couldn’t have put it better myself.
But, for Pete’s sake, nobody tell me, “2021 is your year, kid.” I’m slinking into the New Year with as little fanfare as possible, under the radar, keeping it cool.
Happy New Year, nonetheless! Let’s see what 2021 holds! (Bracing myself and girding my loins, so to speak.)
