How can I even put the year of 2020 into words? Typically around this time, I’d look back on the year that was, the travels I went on, new things I tried… but goodness, how do we even begin to look back on 2020? Hundreds of thousands of people died from the coronavirus. The pandemic, the lockdowns, the shutdowns. The election. So much bad, so much pain, so much suffering for so many people. It seems foolish to even try to find any positives out of the year.

2020 was the year that everything went on pause for a while. Where we worked from home for a few months before trying to go back to some semblance of normalcy. Where our hockey seasons were shuttered, suddenly, in mid-March, and our lives were thrown into disarray. But it’s also the year that our family welcomed a niece (Iyla, in January) and found out we were adding another nephew (due in February 2021) and another niece (summer 2021). Ryan and I celebrated four years of marriage – and I don’t think I left New York state once all year. (Is that right?!?)

It’s also now been more than a year since I last saw my sister & her family, since they live in North Carolina. I miss them dearly, as well as all of our other nephews & nieces, but I’m also grateful for video chats and phone calls that help us feel connected during these socially-distant times.

2020 felt like the longest year, and yet also the shortest year. All I can say at this point is: I’m glad it’s over, and hopefully we’re seeing some light at the end of the tunnels here, between the vaccines for COVID-19, the upcoming inauguration of Biden, etc.

Here’s to hoping those lights at the end of the tunnels aren’t oncoming trains.