To My Dear Friends

I think we can all agree that 2020 was full of promise….but instead became a gift we opened that we all wish desperately we could return.

We learned creativity. We learned how to cook endlessly, we learned how to navigate unforeseen waters.

Those that owned businesses, learned how to go online and use technology to basically “stay alive.” Those that could work from home did so with creativity as well. We were able to reopen businesses with many of us losing employees and having to implement new challenges that no one had ever experienced.

School for us was the same but without field trips, co-ops, libraries, music lessons in person, and absolutely no friends…so it basically was school with not much fun. Summer in our town consists of no swim team, no art camp, and no museums. We are trying to go camping…and hope to do so soon.

Volunteering was over…no creative outlets for me…and the toll from this has been huge…and I’m still suffering for it and not an end in sight.

What I didn’t understand from this from the beginning, is that I’m an introvert but even though that’s true…I still need to get out. I volunteer off and on at about six places in our community….and I have a huge hole in my heart that I haven’t been able to volunteer at any of these places. I can’t even imagine how difficult this has been for so many of them.

Today we were able to get out and go places we haven’t been for a long time. Eat in a real restaurant…and walk around. It felt amazing…I hope I never take for granted just the ordinary.

I miss an ordinary Saturday where I can see people smile at me…or frown…I think right now I would actually take a frown. I’ve had to learn to read people’s eyes…and that has been a real lesson…but boy…those eyes tell a lot. I wish I could shake my customers hands when they come to me for help…or hug them when they show me something special and they have just lost a loved one.

I’m sad for people that live alone…that haven’t had anyone to talk to…be patient when they see you…listen to their stories…they have a lot to say…and you might be the only one they get to talk to today.

I’m sad for the people I visited in the nursing home….I sure did need their smiles to help me through. I miss the faces at UCP…I miss the kids from Youth Alliance. I miss all the programs that were able to raise funds for those kids in need…all of that has stopped right now.

I miss being able to travel freely across our great land…much less not being able to use my passport. I miss the roar of a crowd during a baseball game and we get a homerun! I miss going to the movies…no one does popcorn like they do.

I’m sorry I didn’t check on my friends enough. Didn’t ask how you were all doing. I was too busy licking my own wounds to think about others. I was overwhelmed with not sure about the certainty of my business, my staff…and overwhelmed with our “new schedule.”

I think that at this point we can only look back on lessons learned and see what things we can try to do for the future. I certainly hope that I have learned to never take anything for granted again. That life can change in an instant.

I hope that I will never grumble at going to work. Going to volunteer. Or taking my child somewhere for a lesson. I hope that I won’t complain about early rising to participate in an event again. I hope I won’t complain about how sore my fingers are from making balloons. Or how I am tired and don’t feel like making people laugh.

It will be awhile before the nursing homes call me back….and that’s just how it is….I think when they call me back…I’m hoping for a big party….that lasts a long time….I’m ready.

I’m ready to smile again….and I can’t wait to see your smile to!