Reflections and Looking Ahead

As I look back at 2020 I am thankful for so many things… That is my first thought – Yes the horror of the pandemic has impacted us all, and some to the point of tragedy loosing loved ones or one’s health are very serious and unfortunate things, for which I am deeply sorry about. We must however move ahead and seize the new opportunities that present themselves to us.

So with a sense of joy I bid 2020 a final farewell – good riddance… to the awful pandemic….

There are many things that this pandemic drove goodness in people and I found a great joy volunteering by doing grocery shopping for people that could not get out due to the pandemic – I have met some amazing people through that exper.ience. I also continued to bake cookies weekly but since the group was not meeting in person I started delivering them to the neighbors. That was a welcome distraction to many of the people in this neighborhood…. The two young girls made a sign with their Mom thanking me for bringing joy at this difficult time…that sentiment was shared with me by several people.

There were other highlights – on September 21 I ran my first half marathon, that was after training since June, first here in town, then down in the Outer Banks and then back at the tracks around here. For the big day our son Paul came out to help me during the race. This was a huge accomplishment – and I have set my sites on a full marathon in the early fall 2021… the half marathon was virtual, we will see if the marathon this year has to be virtual, hopefully not.

With the pandemic and the cold weather I purchased a treadmill that we placed in the basement, I have been running on that almost daily to keep in shape.

Mostly I am thankful for my wonderful family, dear wife Megan, son Paul, daughter-in-law Gretchen, my Mom, sisters Virginia and Kathy and extended nieces nephews and great nieces and nephews. I am also thankful for all the friends we have… through the support groups, through work, and the general neighborhood… we support each other through all life’s challenges including the pandemic.