BY SARAH STEPHENS
OWNER, ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
As we count down the days to Christmas and a New Year, I have been reflecting on 2020. So many changes and difficulties. So many friends dealing with hardship and health issues. So many more who lost their jobs or were out of work for lengthy periods. So many still are.
Even now the husband type person is still working from home. But thank God he is still working.
We have been together since 1992, so we can usually get along pretty well. Most days. But with the advent of COVID-19, we began sharing office space at the house. I have a great office at the Elmore/Autauga News home base in Millbrook, but I have learned I am more efficient in a quiet house at my own computer. I was a little spoiled to the quiet and solitude and ability to focus for at least eight hours a day while he was at work.
So, there have been adjustments. For instance, he likes to play music really loudly while he works and is not on a conference call. He is a ball of energy and makes frequent trips into my space to talk about politics. My least favorite subject on the planet, to be honest. He likes to wrestle with the dogs on the floor right by my chair, leaving me to say while on the phone, “Sorry, Sheriff, can you repeat that? Yes, that is growling in the background. No, I am OK, but can you speak a little louder?”
Adjustments, indeed. But blessings have been the majority I have to say.
For instance, as I type this, he has walked into the kitchen chattering away, saying, “I think it is lunch time. It is lunch time? What do you want? Chicken salad? I think chicken salad. That would be yummy bomb and tasty cake. Booyah! I think Chicken Salad would be good. While we listen to Chicken Foot!” (Some of that music he likes to play loudly. A band called Chicken Foot? Okedokee.)
So, there have been lessons to learn in 2020. We have had to learn more patience, and that is not a bad thing.
I have learned to take breathers, and to remind myself the world is not going to come to an end if I don’t write the story “right now.” I can stop for a minute and get on the floor and love on the dogs. The stress I feel to get things done is absolutely my own. Most people really don’t care, and will never notice. That really is a good lesson I needed to learn.
I have learned that COVID-19 is real, and I ignore those out there that call it a myth. It is not a myth. Is it a social experiment to see how easy it is to control the masses? I tend to believe there is a lot more working here than just a deadly virus.
But it is real.
I have lost count of how many friends were diagnosed and had symptoms ranging from none, to mild, to people that I loved dearly who died because of COVID. Many other acquaintances have died as well.
Right now my niece, her husband and a very good friend are battling COVID. Make no mistake, this is real.
But I yearn for the time to come when I can post pictures of an event and No One comments, “Where are the masks?”
True story – I posted a file photo of an organization’s event, as it was held virtually. The photo was around two years old, so no one was wearing masks. People slammed the photo. How dare we run a photo of a group of people in close proximity without masks? It matters not the cutline on the photo said File Photo.
Some people have grown during this time. Some people have shown they will not survive in a zombie apocalypse. I have chosen my team should the apocalypse come, and it is completely based on how useful you would be in hard times. If you complained during the time after Hurricane Zeta only because you couldn’t watch your favorite show when most of us were out of power….you are not on my team.
A friend of mine posted a meme the other day that said, “You think 2020 was bad? Wait until it turns 21 and starts drinking.”
Lord, please let the coming year be better for us all.
May the lessons we have learned in 2020 make us stronger, not more cynical. May the toilet paper shelves remain full, may food be in plentiful supply, may those who have worked through this ordeal be respected and admired. So many essential workers have dealt with a diagnosis of COVID. A lot of fire departments, police departments, hospitals and assorted essential businesses are still dealing with shortages and scheduling issues.
I think we as a people are much more resilient than we give ourselves credit for. I really do believe that. I really believe this will pass in time. I really believe that our college journalism classes are failing in their teachings to media students. (That is a whole other column one day.)
So, love your families. Treasure your friendships. Pick your Zombie Apocalypse team. And God bless America. God bless our military and first responders. God bless our medical communities. God bless our truck drivers. God bless the nursing home residents who have not been able to have a hug or a human visitor, other than through a window. God bless our political leaders….even if it is just with common sense which seems to be a lost art. God bless us everyone.
Merry Christmas good people. The fuzzy husband just completed lunch, and big girl is hawnnngry.
Peace Out!
P.S. This photo was taken about three years ago with Santa and Mrs. Clause. I wonder how many will comment, “Where is the mask?” because they didn’t bother to read more than three paragraphs. If you made it to the end, thank you.
Sarah Stephens can be reached at editorsarah@yahoo.com.
