Sure, 2020 was pretty bad, but it wasn’t all bad

It’s tempting to dismiss 2020 with a “Good riddance,” quickly turn the page and start to savor what we hope will be a return to normalcy in 2021. 

We can’t do that, though.

It would be disrespectful to those who have suffered so much – loss of loved ones, jobs, businesses, in-person contact with family and friends, wedding plans, normal graduations and a lot more.

Loss has surrounded us, touched us all to different degrees, and it should be soberly acknowledged.

We’ll all enter the new year more changed by the last 12 months than by a so-called normal year. Unlike a year when life-changing fortunes, good or bad, strike a relatively low percentage of us, 2020 has been a universal experience of abrupt change to all our routines and lives.

In the spirit of positivity, let’s take a shot at finding some silver linings from 2020.

■ The warrior spirit of our healthcare workers. I’m prejudiced on this one, with several family members in or retired from the field, but most everyone knows at least one person who has been involved with patient care in a retirement home, rehabilitation center, hospital or doctor’s office.

Of these, the strongest have been the intensive care professionals in our hospitals. These are tough, dedicated people who see a lot of tragedy and sorrow in their jobs, though they also see uplifting, near-miraculous healing, too.

For much of 2020, COVID-19 held the upper hand, delivering wave after wave, punch after punch of bad, dispiriting news. Hours were longer, colleagues were infected, patients were isolated in their biggest hour of need.

As this went on for months, some ICU workers began to suffer from something akin to post-traumatic stress syndrome, except worse because the trauma continued. Between the stress and fatigue, I don’t know how they kept going.

But they have.

Thanks to all of you. You are heroes.

■ Re-established family connections. This one has irony going for it. With people unable or unwilling to travel, far-off family and friends suddenly became more precious to us. The need to connect brought about the Zooming of America.

We missed the in-person time, for sure, but many families made an extra effort to do what they could. They met halfway for outdoor picnics or at least conquered new technology to remain tethered online.

They connected.

The bottom line on this one – we can hope – is a renewed appreciation of those most important to us that lasts a while before we go back to taking them for granted.

The best outcome is that we never again take them for granted.

■ Love found a way. There were three weddings in our family in 2020. All were altered considerably either in schedule, venue or attendance, or all three.

You had to feel for the brides – they anticipate this day from the time they are little girls. The grooms just have to show up.

Our son was married in late March in Houston to a lovely young woman from Ireland. We attended the service virtually from Missouri, her parents from Dublin, and siblings on both sides from all over the country and world. Tim had no wedding ring so he used a Cardinal replica World Series ring the size of a walnut.

When international travel resumes, there will be a wedding in Ireland with proper rings, actual guests and as many other normal things as possible.

A niece and a nephew also powered through the pandemic to have their weddings.

The common theme is that all three couples overcame it to launch their lives together, which was the most important thing. As a bonus, they’ll all have some good stories for their children.

■ We rose to the occasion as caring humans. While so many have struggled financially, a large number of Americans stepped up to help. Food and clothing drives were held, patrons of local businesses did what they could to try to help them make it through. Restaurants sent over meals to hospitals, nursing homes and first responders. Stories of enormous tips left at hard-hit eateries were not uncommon.

People were kinder to each other. That didn’t cost anything, but what a difference it makes.

Of course, we all hope 2021 will be better, and it will be.

Vaccines to beat back the scourge are shipping across the country. There will be a fresh start in our nation’s leadership, and we won’t have to endure a long, divisive election campaign.

With the threat against our health beginning to recede, I’m betting on a rekindled American optimism. The darkness of 2020 will fade and – hopefully – the lessons learned about the value of family and community, being helpful and kind toward one another, will remain. 

Happy New Year.