Year-end Lists 2020: Personal

(Thanks, WTM!)

While 2020 has been an awful and momentous year for everyone, the pandemic did not impact me personally as much as other people, because I live alone and already worked from home. But it was a big downer for my kids, who were looking forward to a big ceremony upon graduating from college. Instead, they were sent home March 13th to finish classes online, had no commencement, and got their diplomas in the mail. I am still exceedingly proud of both Princess and Gothgrrl on attaining their bachelor's degrees.

The big event that changed my life this year was my mother breaking her hip. Suddenly, I'm in charge of her life (along with my brother and SIL). We weren't about to leave her in a nursing home any longer than we had to, and it's dangerous to bring too many strangers around, so the family has been caring for her at her home, about 20 miles from mine. Ten months later, she has made quite a lot of progress in recovering, but still needs a walker and cannot cook for herself, so my SIL and I split our time staying with her, with help from brother Bill and her granddaughters when they are available. That makes keeping up with blogging a lot harder, and I've slipped somewhat in those duties. But I managed to experiment with all this hair that hasn't seen a salon in over a year.

It was a weird year professionally, too. Early in 2020, I was "ghosted" by Considerable. They just stopped responding to my emails. I eventually figured out that my boss must have been let go and he may have been too traumatized, and then later embarrassed, to let me know. At least that's the most charitable assumption I can muster. I struggled financially, but it was a blessing in disguise because I was quite busy with Mom. I managed to keep up with Neatorama, but I wouldn't have had the time for longform writing. And recently I joined Boing Boing, so things are looking up!  

The pandemic summer was a long one. My garden didn't produce much compared to other years, mainly because I didn't put in the necessary time. I had three unemployed college graduates living with me: my two daughters, and an international student who eventually got a job with a biotech lab in Cambridge. Gothgrrl started veterinary school in August, and seems to have taken to it like a duck to water. Princess got a job and a cat and an apartment about two hours from here.

Another thing that happened was that I lost my sweet baby Frisby last spring under horrible circumstances that I don't even want to write about. The situation was exacerbated by the lockdown and Mom's hospital stay, and I didn't have a chance to properly mourn until much later. She was only a year old. I won't get another kitten for the foreseeable future. The three cats I have will have to do. 

As 2020 draws to a close, I am exceedingly happy that we have a new administration coming in to Washington, although I know it will take quite some time to undo the damage that the current administration has done to our country. I am also truly thankful for covid vaccines -if only everyone could get them before they get the disease. I'll keep praying about that.

I hope things are also looking up for you, and that 2021 will bring you health, happiness, and blessings!