Happy COVIDAVERSARY everyone,

I can’t believe it’s been a year of masks, 6 feet apart, social distancing, and freaking out about every time someone near you sneezed. We learned whether we were considered “essential” or not. We realized toilet paper can be a currency and hand sanitizer is liquid gold. Shelter in place and mandatory isolation was advertised as brave and the new normal and honestly, I don’t know what this new COVID affected world is going to look like long term even as restrictions start lessening up.

It’s been a year- do you remember where you were when it dawned on you that this was going to change your life. I know exactly where I was when the news hit that this was coming. I was down in Haiti with a group getting our orphanage ready for incoming kids. People were texting and messaging us that everything was going haywire at home. With little phone and internet signal we all thought people were overreacting and exaggerating what was going on. We joked about the craziness that must be going on back home and imaging that it was similar to the shear panic that only people in Maryland experience when they hear that potential snow is on the way.

We took pictures with the brand of Haitian toilets aptly called “Corona.” We joked that we’d get a vacation when people said we would have to isolate for 14 days. We thought this was ridiculous, but it turned out that the ridiculousness would last 12 months and there’s no date for any semblance of normal.

Regardless of whether you are Maskers or Anti-Maskers we survived this global pandemic so far while so many people tragically lost their lives. There are no words to comfort for those that have lost loved ones and were forced to deal with the circus of trying to give their loved ones a proper goodbye. There is no way to adequately thank the medical staff and first responders for being on the front lines and risking their own and their family’s health in order to be there for the rest of us.  

But my heart also goes out to all those parents who were thrown into a whirlwind of distance learning and walking the line of teaching your kids caution verses cultivating an environment of fear. There were kids that were being “mask trained” before they were even potty trained. Kids who passed playgrounds everyday not knowing when they would be able to go back. There was not one person who wasn’t affected through this whole experience and at times we let this divide us rather than unite our communities.

So, while kids are finally starting to get back in their classrooms and restaurants are getting a glimmer of hope that they might survive and keep their doors open I can only breathe a sigh of relief for all of you. You’ve made it despite so many challenges and obstacles. I can’t give you any hope or silver linings other than the fact that hopefully by next year we won’t have to “celebrate” another COVIDVERSARY.

How about you raise a glass, take a walk outside and enjoy this gorgeous weather, and celebrate this small victory of survival (mentally, emotionally, physically) despite what could have seemed like so many reasons to give up. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Take one day at a time. One conversation with perhaps a little more grace and let yourself have hope. I’m rooting for you.