What A Year It Has Been - 2020

 I think it's safe to say that 2020 for most of us, in general, has been a bust. Kids have been "distance learning" since March. Solon has been remote since March. Mommy hasn't had a minute to herself since March. Hahaha.

We all have been dealing with changes in mental health with each day that passes without in-person interactions and hugs that don't require masks. Our hands are SO DRY from the continuous washing. We miss going to movies, and social functions, and SCHOOL, without the fear of contracting a crazy virus, or not knowing if we're the ones who are sick and asymptomatically infecting someone else.

I've known people who have lost loved ones. I know people who have gotten sick, and are fine. I know people who got it months ago, and now have lingering effects that they can't seem to shake. I know that some people say, "It's just like the flu, it's not a big deal." I know others who have experienced it much more intensely and beg to differ. I know that small businesses and some of our favorite restaurants are suffering, some closing... but I also know businesses that have said, "Lives are more important than my storefront." I know people who are grateful for the family togetherness that has doubled for them since the spring, but I also know people who are isolated from their families, or who live alone, and who feel like this pandemic is doing long-term damage to their psyche. It's a mess. Typing all of this hurts my heart, but considering I haven't really had access to my own laptop since my last post in May, I just needed to release it.

I wanted to "write it out" so that one day we can look back on this year, and remember what our family learned from it. I want to remember that our little family has been careful with our health, and the health of others. That we have acted as responsibly as possible, while also honoring our mental stability. I want to remember that there was some good that came out of all of this. Like the massive SLOWING DOWN of our lives, and the creative ways we have learned to connect during the Covid-19 pandemic. I'm not going to focus on the things we missed out on (for me personally, coaching Paloma's softball team this year), but rather remember the friendships we made at the start of the year, the way our kids learned to lean on each other a little more when they couldn't see friends, the extra time Solon had at home, even if he was working in the next room. I'm going to remember all the "Marco Polo" videos that I sent back and forth with friends, checking in on each other, venting about EVERYTHING, or making Top 20 KZON song lists, which brought back SO MANY MEMORIES from my radio days. I'm going to remember, since my kids and husband were taking over all the space indoors, that Sunny and I were outdoors in the yard, playing fetch, and working on my deck's potted garden. 

After growing up in the AZ desert, I never really had much success with growing anything without the help of an irrigation system. I got busy and would forget to water things. But in Oregon, I have been able to build my confidence, growing plants from seeds (!), nurturing them daily, and reaping the rewards in due time. I didn't succeed right away. I killed three basil plants with overwatering before I figured out how much was enough. And my cherry tomato babies couldn't flourish until I found a YouTube video that taught me how to properly prune my plant. After that - so many beautiful and delicious tomato babies! Cultivating this little garden of mine was good for my mental health. I loved being out in that garden, listening to music, and learning - and growing alongside my plants!

I will remember that:

• We were fortunate to see some family safely between periods of quarantine, which was imperative for our well-being, and we are so grateful for the time we had together. 
  
  

• We experienced our first Oregon wildfires, which was definitely a bit too close for comfort, and were able to escape to Washington for a few days to get some fresh air (something we'll never again take for granted). 
  

• We took Sunny to the dog beach several times, and got out of the house as often as we could to do something in the nature. 
  
  

• We taught our children about social justice and participated in a socially-distant event to promote peace, and support the community during the aftermath of George Floyd in May. 
  

• We actively participated in the democratic process this election year, and educated Quincy and Paloma about the importance along the way. 
  

• I cooked A LOT - even more than normal, and discovered I do NOT have the patience to make my own sourdough starter. 

• Solon got his indoor sound system just how he wants it, and we've turned part of our garage into a workout space.

• Quincy has been having an awesome time creating more Stop Motion animation videos for our family's YouTube Channel.

• Paloma has been making earrings and selling them on an Etsy Marketplace shop, donating $1 from each pair to either St. Jude's Children's Cancer Research Center or the Wildlife Conservation Society. (www.etsy.com/shop/PalomasPeace) 
  

• I wrote my first children's book which will be illustrated by my amazingly talented cousin Kerry, that I'm looking to self-publish in 2021.

So there's been some good, and I want to remember that. 

I also want to acknowledge all the bad. The ravaging fires; the lives of 280,000+ lost that could have been prevented if we had better leadership, and a little more decency and regard for others as a nation; the lives of people we looked up to, our kids looked up to, who died too soon; and others who, due to a highly flawed criminal justice system, are no longer with us - their deaths another hashtag. I want to acknowledge it so that I can make sure we're doing our part to do better. All of us. 

I'm hoping that you have been able to make beautiful memories despite the chaos and craziness, and that you are healthy and feeling well. I'm praying that every member of our society chooses to do the work to bring peace to our communities, cities, states, and our nation. That we teach our children, by example, and learn to truly love our neighbors. That we bring people into our lives, and our inner circles that don't look like us, or believe in the same exact ways. My dream is that people start actively communicating with one another, really listening to and absorbing the stories and experiences of others, not just engaging so they can make their own points. It's only then that things will get better. It's only then that can truly reflect what America was intended to be. It's my prayer EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I know this year's holiday season will look different for every household. We are sending you love from Portland, and hoping that there is Christmas magic in the air around you, and a multitude of blessings on the way to all.