2020.
Oh dear, where to even begin.
Well, I think it’s safe to say that 2020 looked absolutely NOTHING like what we were hoping for, but thankfully, we’re all still alive. Sheesh. I really have no words for 2020 except to say that I’m glad it’s over!!!!
The Bad…
It was the year that it rained nonstop for, like, two months straight. Literally. I remember reading in February that we’d had over two feet of rain here in town just in the first couple of months. It was seriously crazy. While a lot of rain is not a terrible thing, looking back, I feel like it was a bad omen for things to come. The silver lining – lots of rainbows and beautiful sunsets.
It was the year that my nearly ten-year old Honda CRV decided to crap out. So. many. Car. Troubles. And so much money wasted. And NOBODY could figure out what was wrong with it… not even the Honda dealership. I mean, if they can’t figure it out, then who can?! We took it to so many places, y’all! The engine light kept coming on and going off and the car would shudder constantly and shut itself off. The air conditioner also quit working, and if you live in the south, you know just how awful that is during the summer. Needless to say, I spent every second in the car riddled with anxiety, which isn’t good since I already have anxiety about being on the road. The silver lining – a brand new SUV that I love more than any other vehicle I’ve ever had!
It was the year that I was super sick for probably the longest stretch of my life. In mid-February, I came down with a horrendous cough – the worst I’ve ever had in my life – and it lasted for six whole weeks. I had an entire week of completely sleepless nights and I injured my ribs because the coughing was so violent… I tried every cough medicine and home remedy under the sun, and nothing worked. I also had a couple of days of severe fatigue, but other than that – nothing. That cough was killer, though. I SWEAR it was Covid, but it happened before Covid supposedly hit here. And my two Covid antibody tests say otherwise as well. The silver lining – if it was Covid, at least mine wasn’t dangerous/deadly and I don’t think anyone else in our house got it, although, Brian and Olivia were both sick shortly after I was.
It was the year that the entire world shut down… March 13, 2020… that date will be ingrained in my brain for the rest of my life. I remember hearing rumors that morning that it was going to happen, and then it did.
It was the year that a global pandemic hit, and everything was canceled.
It was the year that school was canceled, and we had to do virtual learning for the first time in our lives.
It was the year that our trip to Disney World for spring break was canceled and then rescheduled and then canceled again… seriously a heartbreaker, y’all. We were only two weeks away from going when everything shut down. I had already started packing. :o(
It was the year that my favorite field trip ever at our school (the strawberry patch in kindergarten) was canceled… minor in the scheme of things, but I hate that I’ll never get to do that with my girl.
It was the year that Jacob’s first spring season of baseball ever was canceled. He only got to play one game before they shut it down.
It was the year that kindergarten graduation was canceled. I’m still so heartbroken about this… something else we’ll never be able to get back.
It was the year that a tropical storm hit during our beach trip. Fortunately, we ended up having several days of good weather afterward, though, but how 2020 was that?!
It was the year that a hurricane hit during our mountain trip… like what?! What are the odds? Lol. Again, SO 2020. We still had a great time, though.
It was the year that FOUR hurricanes hit here in our city. Thankfully, there was no damage here and everyone is fine, but I just had to include this because we’ve never had that many hit our city in one season. So fitting for 2020.
It was the year that our Lumineers concert was canceled.
It was the year that we had tickets to Hamilton, and it was canceled.
It was the year that our Dave Matthews Band concert was canceled.
It was the year that our Paul Thorn concert was canceled.
It was the year that we couldn’t leave the house, go anywhere, or do anything.
It was the year that I chipped a tooth… not such a big deal in a normal year, but a HUGE deal when all of the dentist offices are closed.
It was the year that my brother had to have emergency appendix surgery.
It was the year that Brian threw out his back… again… but so bad this time, that he had to see a neurologist who told him he had to have emergency back surgery the very next day. The silver lining – his surgery was successful, and that doctor saved him from having a dead foot for the rest of his life!
It was the year that Olivia fractured her elbow. The silver lining – it was so minor she only had to wear a splint and sling for a few days. Whew.
It was the year that my cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and then lost him a few hours later. There are no words for that one, and definitely no silver lining.
It was the year that we watched family member after family member and friend after friend get taken down by Covid, some more seriously than others. The silver lining – everybody we know except for one person recovered (although, a couple still have lingering issues).
It was the year that Brian’s company announced a 10% pay cut for all employees to try to save jobs. Again, minor in the scheme of things, but since only one of us has a full-time corporate job, it was scary. The silver lining – we couldn’t go anywhere or do anything so we didn’t spend as much money this year.
It was the year that the job market tanked.
It was the year that the economy tanked.
It was the year that blog pageviews and blog revenue tanked.
It was the year that our nation became more divided than ever over racism in our country, and I was devastated to find out that some of my own personal friends and family members do not believe it to be a “thing.” The silver lining – many issues for people of color have been brought to the forefront of people’s minds, and hopefully, that means real change is happening.
It was the year that people showed their true colors on Facebook and Instagram, and it was the year that I had to cut some people out for my own sanity (thankfully, nobody super close to me).
It was the year that violence was prevalent, and riots broke out all over the United States.
It was the year that politics drove a wedge so deep in our nation that I’m not sure we’ll ever recover.
It was the year that American democracy was tested to the max.
It was the year that we mourned the loss of “normal” and had to adjust to the “new normal.”
It was the year that church and dinners out and Sunday lunches and Sunday dinners and date nights and girls’ nights and bible studies and book clubs were canceled.
It was the year that I chose the word CONNECT as my word of the year, and I felt more disconnected from everyone than I ever have in my entire life.
Sigh. So many heartbreaking things this year. But with the bad, there’s always good, and those are the things that we tried to cling to with both hands this year…
The Good…
It was the year that we celebrated Brian’s 42nd birthday!
Week 3 - See Beach recaps above
Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board
Quick, Easy, and Nutritious Smoothie forPeople on the Go
Red, White, and Blue Charcuterie Board
20 Simple Changes I Made Around the House that Have Made Life Easier – Part 1
20 Simple Changes I Made Around the House that Have Made Life Easier – Part 2
Our Weekday Quarantine Schedule
Two Years with My Simplified Planner
The Easiest Way to Label, Wash, and Organize Face Masks + the Best Face Masks
This was the first year that I didn’t have a new post go viral… thanks, Covid. I had several posts that I published at the beginning of the year that started to take off on Pinterest, and after the March 13 shutdown, EVERYTHING plummeted. Pageviews plummeted, ad revenue plummeted, and overall income plummeted.
I ended up moving a lot of my scheduled content to 2021 as I had no motivation to blog, and I certainly had no time either since the kids were home with me most of the year. I also just didn’t want to waste the content since hardly anyone was reading blogs.
I thought for sure my income would be cut in half this year (or worse), but I miraculously managed to recover most of it, making just under what I made last year. My goal was, obviously, to increase my income from the previous year, but considering everything that happened this year, I’m calling a small loss a win in 2020. It could have been so much worse.
Thank goodness for old posts that are still making the rounds on Pinterest and generating pageviews! Anyway, here are my top five posts of 2020… and they’re pretty darn random since none of them went viral!
F I V E – What I Ordered from Amazon in May 2020
My Amazon posts are always some of my most popular, but I didn’t anticipate that any of them would make it in my top five for the year, let alone THREE of them.
F O U R – How to Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets Into Zones to Maximize Functionality
This post is at 4th place, and it was one of my favorite posts of the whole year. I LOVE doing organizational posts, and this was probably my best one of 2020. Apparently, y’all liked it, too. ;o) This one, I actually expected to be in the top five.
T H R E E – What I Ordered from Amazon in January 2020
This post came in third place for the year… another random one!
T W O – Easy DIY Giant Gold-Framed Bulletin Board for Under $30 + Bulletin Board Inspiration
This post came in as my second most-viewed post written in 2020, and it was another one of my favorites. I’m so proud of this bulletin board and it’s just one of my most favorite things in my office! This one makes total sense to be at #2 in my opinion.
O N E – What I Ordered from Amazon in February 2020
And finally, this post was my most popular post written in 2020!! What a strange post to have been my most popular one, y’all.
***
Oh 2020, you’ve been one of the most trying years of my life. You’ll always be associated with Covid-19, social injustice, and the absolute WORST election year we’ve had in my whole lifetime.
- Please be the year that Covid-19 dies a slow death and
we are able to get back to normal.
- Please be the year that we all start to reconnect with
all of our loved ones with whom we barely got to spend time with in 2020.
- And please, please be the year that the
following words and phrases are retired forever:
-
Covid-19/Coronavirus/The
Rona
-
Stay
at home/safe at home/shelter in place
-
Home
school/virtual learning/distance learning
-
Six
feet apart
-
Quarantine
-
Face
mask
-
Toilet
paper shortage
-
Out
of an abundance of caution
-
Unprecedented
times
-
Hand
sanitizer
-
New
normal
-
Pivot
AND ALSO, DO NOT LET ME HEAR SO MUCH AS ONE POLITICAL AD THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2021!!!!
Amen.
Peace out, 2020, and GOOD RIDDANCE!
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What an interesting look back isn't it? When I was scrolling through some of my early posts from the year I kept thinking of how much my expectations for the year changed. We too had two canceled Disney trips!
ReplyDeleteI know, I remember! Ugh, it stinks!! I'm so sorry y'all were in the same boat.
DeleteWhat a year! So many ups and downs, that is for sure! Cheers to the end, and hopefully a better 2021!
ReplyDelete2020 was def. one of the most crazy years I've lived in, and I hope no other years are like this. Here's to a better 2021!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! Please no more years like 2020!
DeleteOh gosh, the bad is so sad. I'm glad you found the good! You may still hear political adds till your GA elections, lol. But I hate most of those sayings too, especially out of an abundance of caution!
ReplyDeleteIt has sure been a year! Your list of hopeful words to be retired in 2021 had me laughing. I truly hope that face masks become a long lost accessory that never shows up in history again. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYour post made me teary eyed, it was so relatable. Love your blog and hope 2021 will give you lots of happy content!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Stacy, and thank you for following along! Happy new year to you!
DeleteWhat a year. I need to go back and remember all the things too. I had a family member pass away the week before all this started and his funeral was the last time I was in a big group; that feels like 8 years ago! The memes are so I’m point. Let’s hope 2021 is WAY more normal! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post. Well said. Cheers to 2021! Happy New Year to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Happy New Year to you!
DeleteWhat a year it has been. So many goods, but definitely a lot of bads. So much has changed this year. So much that we missed out on, but we got so much more family time! Happy New Year's to you all!
ReplyDeleteYou managed to make some amazing memories in such a crappy year...and you got to travel a bit! I'm ready to freaking go somewhere!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!
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