2020inreview

December 31st, 2020 by Jan

Oh what a year it’s been for all of us. I will say Ken and I are very fortunate to be weathering this storm in a sturdy boat, in very safe harbour. Being retired, homebodies, and introverts made the year easier, and… boy howdy, none of this has been easy.

So, here’s my annual
Year in Review in simple question and answer form.

What did you do in 2020 that you’ve never done before?
I wore a mask over my face in a bank. As a matter of fact, I wore a mask over my face every time I went in public and I also didn’t spend much time in public.

Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
In 2020 I made two resolutions. One was to hike at least 52 new trails. This is an easy yes. I hiked a lot and logged at least 2,000 km. The second was to work my way through the Martha Stewart Bakes cookbook. I baked a lot, but hardly made a dent in Martha’s book.
For 2021 I make no promises or resolutions. I’ve been thinking on motto’s though and I’m leaning towards… Together Again. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Becky became a grandma, I think Kat and Kevin had another baby as well.

Did anyone close to you die?
Shall I say their names? And, at the time of this writing… 14,936 dead in Canada, 808 in BC, 1 in Sechelt, 341,000 plus dead in the states  and 1,771,177 so far worldwide. On a personal note, people I love, lost people they loved. So I call the name of Debs sister, Linda, Sandie’s brother Scott, Sheri’s mom Sandy, Joyce’s husband Ronnie, and Anna’s mom Irene. Salute.

What countries did you visit?
We stayed in Canada. Actually, we stayed in Sechelt and at home on Samron Rd. I moved around a lot in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and sewing room, the bathroom was a fave. I got out hiking in the woods a lot with MuMu.

What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?
Company!

What events from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?
Ken and I stayed healthy during the pandemic. Like Sisyphus I rolled the same rock up the hill each day in the form of sewing, reading, hiking, and cooking. Learning to paint has been as hard as learning to read. My head explodes and expands with each lesson. Getting lost in the woods will stick with me for a while.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I read or listened to 82 books. I took painting lessons on-line. I figured out how to thread and use a serger! I sewed a lot of face masks, and raised a lot of money for the food bank.

What was your biggest failure?
I ride a very high horse and have a hard time getting off it.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Ken and I are well. Ken had cataract surgery on both eyes, and I was put on the wait list to be next. I fell hiking once and had a big bruise on my bum, and my jaw and ears continue to give me trouble from the head injury the stupid dentist gave me a few years ago, but… gratefully, we are quite healthy for a couple of old folks!

What was the best thing you bought?
I sew and paint like a millionaire, and we eat like kings. Oh, we bought a fancy cover for the van.

Whose behaviour merited celebration?
People who wash their hands, mask up, stay home, keep calm and stay nice. Dr. Bonny Henry is a rock star. Kelly at Coastal Organics earns 5 stars! I continue to cheer the everyday actions of my husband Ken, Sandie, Kas, Jess, Anna, Ross and Tyler, Kathy, and my brother Art. Salute!

Whose behaviour appalled you?
I find ALL of the GOP disgusting. Anti maskers, anti vaxers, and people who ignored the stay at home orders just piss me off.

Where did most of your money go?
Sadly, even though we didn’t go anywhere, we spent a whack of money on car and van repairs. I’d say most of our money went toward hobbies and into our bellies.

What did you get really excited about?
Drive by parades! Hiking, sewing, reading, painting, cooking and realizing I’m okay doing the same thing over and over each day.

What song will always remind you of 2020?
Anything by the Rolling Stones, or John Prine singing, Hello in there.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder?  Happier, with more cranky moments.
ii. thinner or fatter?  Same and what a journey it’s been to be able to say that.
iii. richer or poorer?  Richer.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish we could have taken a road trip, or had friends over.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
I ride a pretty high horse, and there are times I wish I could get off. I also complain about the neighbours and living in an industrial park a lot. I wish I didn’t need to! Ha Ha!

Did you fall in love in 2020?
Ken has my heart, he’s a really good man, and well, MuMu sure makes us laugh.

What was your favourite TV program?
I record TV shows, then fast forward through them. I watch Great Performances, Masterpiece, and detective shows like Vera and Lewis. I watch TV, and don’t care about most of it. I yell at and talk back to TV shows. Never take the fast forward feature from me.

Have you let go of any resentment or have a regret you cling to?
I find I really resent people who ignore Covid safety and travel protocols, and I regret being so judgmental of them. I will hate that ghoul Mitch McConnell to my dying day. Same goes with that other fucker that hurt so many.

What was the best book you read?
The book that stuck with me the most was Will Carver’s Nothing Important Happened Today. What a twisted and brilliant mind fuck that was.

What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
I like the Deezer app and put it on random play, and I like oldies. Of course listening to Ken sing when he plays guitar is still my favourite joy. Ringing bells and singing when I hike keeps the bears away!

What did you want and get?
On-line painting and drawing lessons with Jess Rice! Time alone in the woods.

What did you want and not get?
Company, a road trip, and a professional haircut.

What was your favourite film of this year?
I don’t watched many movies.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 65 on May 20th. No party for me, yet Patti Brown made a four layer coconut, butter pecan cake for me! It was incredible and because of the no company rules, I didn’t have to share with anyone except Ken! I also qualified for OAS which is money Canada gives to old people every month!

What one thing made the year immeasurably more satisfying?
One thing — Watching MuMu and her best friend Oliver play.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
Who cares what I wear? I wear the same clothes I’ve worn for years and years. Literally, the same clothes! Okay, I now wear a mask as well.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Seriously? What doesn’t stir politically?  I know my privilege.

Who and what did you miss?
Who I miss: Company! Kim, mom and Peet. I really miss my brother Art and am grateful we text often.
What I miss: Friendly HUGS, dinners out, drop in friends, easy travel, game night, and wandering around a store. I miss picking things up and putting them back down. I miss having a cat. I miss a covid free world.

Who was the best new person you met?
Kas! Technically I met Kas in December 2019, when her dog Oliver met MuMu in the park. The dogs became instant best friends, and so Kas and I had no choice but to get to know each other. We have been able to distance hike together with the dogs, and, it’s been grand. Kas is a member of our local RCMP. I’ve never had a cop for a friend before and I’m very grateful for her friendship, her outlook on life and her service to our community. Salute!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.
Biggest lesson reinforced – Better safe than dead.
While I do think a purposeful life is overrated, … perhaps a repetitive one is as well.
On we go! With gratitude and love.

2 thoughts on “2020inreview

  1. Laurie

    All in all, for a sucky year it was, for the most part, a pretty good one. Stay healthy and stay mighty out there. Onward!

    Reply

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