THOSE WERE THE DAYS “A Year to Forget”

Whoosh. Was it a bird, a plane, Superman? No, it was the year 2020 speeding by, months of personal inactivity yet a year like no other, a year filled with anxiety, fear, stress, illness, death, political unrest and, in too many instances, financial ruin. 2020 was ruled by a deadly virus called COVID-19 that spared no one; businesses, schools, churches and all social events were and, in many cases still are, curtailed, doors closed, face masks mandatory and not even a friendly hand shake is allowed.

In World War One the main reason there were so many casualties was because there had never been a world war before and countries in general did not know how to cope with a global conflict. This virus is in the same category, not since 1918 has the world witnessed such a pandemic and even in our so-called modern era, no one really knew how to cope with this virus. Safety first measures meant many special days such as Mother’s and Father’s Days, Good Friday, Easter, Labour Day and county fairs, professional sports and even Hallowe’en were put on hold, tourists were told to stay home and across the entire globe people were ordered to stay at least six feet apart. The year 2020 is a year we would all like to forget.

There are days though we just can not allow ourselves to forget; November 11th, a time when we must stop and remember those who fought and died for our freedoms, men and women we vowed in prayer we would never forget. If we are unable to gather in respect in front of a cenotaph then I hope wherever you are everyone will bow their head at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, lest we forget.

Then the year will be capped by Christmas, the biggest, the merriest, the family gatherings, the giving and receiving of gifts, children’s’ laughter, carols and hymns, the sanctity of church services, Christmas trees, tinsel, flashing lights; a time when the needy, the homeless, the lonely are truly remembered. How will we handle the most popular day of the year, how will we react without the clasping of hands from stranger to stranger wishing each the happiest, healthiest and prosperous year ahead? How do we explain to our children why this year they are unable to congregate in front of a manger or sit on Santa’s lap?

Soon we will enter 2021, a new year, a new beginning. As a child I remember the lean days of the depression and horrors of WWII; the world has survived tragedies before, and we will survive this one. We will always remember those who sadly succumbed to the pandemic, we will remember the sacrifices we all had to make; but COVID-19 will one day be behind us and we will go back to a normal – probably a strange new normal, but 2020 will be history, and the left foot will again follow the right foot as we finally move beyond these trying times.

At this writing I have no idea what the end of December will unfold but to one and all, from my house to yours, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.

Russ Sanders
epigram@nexicom.net