A letter to 2020,

I'm not sure where to start this letter but here goes.....

Dear 2020,

I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss hugging people. I miss getting on an airplane, flying to another country and getting to know that county's culture. I miss football games and live music and crowded restaurants or bars where I can meet new people and make new friends. I miss talking to waiters/waitresses, bartenders, flight attendants, etc.

I don't miss heavy traffic. I don't miss people getting into my "personal space".

The year started off great. January and March were jam packed with events and visitors. Thank you for those first couple of months 2020. Mike and Jill, Korey and Anna, Kevin and Kathy, Mike and Alicia all visited. We attended our first Predators game. We visited Broadway a lot and started settling in to our favorite places.

But then, 2020, you brought the devastation of a tornado the first week of March. It passed within a mile of our house. Such devastation. We got our first taste of how the people around Nashville take care of each though. They all pitch in and helped one another. The amount of volunteers in Nashville and Mt. Juliet were amazing. People took off work to go help people clean up from the mess the tornado left. Donations poured in. People donated their time and money to make meals for the volunteers and then people delivered those meals to the volunteers that were working tirelessly during the cleanup efforts. It was amazing. It was humbling.

But you weren't done with us 2020. Before the cleanup was complete, you brought us COVID. As I've never been through a pandemic, I didn't realize the effect this would have on the remainder of the year. Jim and I had a trip to Vietnam and Thailand scheduled during April. We thought surely by April things would open back up. Little did we know...... Instead, Jim stopped traveling for work and our offices both shut down. That was an adjustment. We had never had to spend so much time together and Jim had never been unable to travel for such a long period of time. This taught us quite a few things. We learned to be more respectful of each other in a way we had never had experienced. We became an even stronger couple than before. It hasn't always been a bed of roses, but we learned how strong our love really is. And our communication skills have become so much better. Our house is not as large as our previous houses and we don't have a lot of acreage like we used to. So we learned to enjoy walks. Sometimes alone. Sometimes together. We have had some of the best talks we have ever had during these walks. Thank you 2020.

Again, we saw the compassion of people after COVID entered our lives. People offering to help those that were sick. People grocery shopping for others. We had a group of volunteers in our neighborhood band together and make masks for healthcare workers. I think they made over 3,000 masks. We got to know our neighbors better. Jim and I have two neighbors that we started having happy hours with each Saturday. We each took our lawn chairs to the corner of our yards where they all met and spent a couple hours getting to know each other better. We helped one of the couples with their wedding. They had to cancel their traditional wedding and instead, got married on their front porch. We had a small gathering of people who all socially distanced and it was a beautiful outdoor event. I have never witnessed such a beautiful bride and groom. Thank you 2020.

Because of the time I had at home, I was able to finish my book. I don't think I would have finished it this year if things had been "normal". Jim and I like to travel too much and I'm certain I wouldn't have spent the time focusing on writing if I hadn't been forced to not travel. I am now ready to start my second book. Thank you 2020.

Hiking became even more important to us. Flying was not an option so we took trips where we could drive. Although Jim had spent a lot of time exploring Tennessee, I had not. He has been caving in Tennessee for most of his life so he knows where all the good spots are. We have often jumped in the car and headed East to go visit waterfalls, hiking trails or lakes. We were able to take the time to explore more of Tennessee and it has made me love this state even more. Thank you 2020.

Next up, you brought diversity, inclusion and equality to the front of everyone's minds. Although we went through some hell, you have made people step up and pay attention! This is a year of equality for all and I must say, it's about damn time. I've always considered myself to be one of the least racist people I know but 2020 has taught me that I still have a lot to learn. I am a believer of "love and let love" but that doesn't mean I understand what others go through because of their color, sexual orientation or culture. I have taken the lead at my office for a Diversity and Inclusion initiative and am doing everything I can to learn more and educate others. Some of the conversations I am having are difficult. Both on the learning side and the educating side. But I am having those conversations and will continue to do what I can as a privileged white female to educate myself and others. Thank you 2020.

And finally, on Christmas Day you deliver a bomber to us in Nashville that destroys a significant portion of our downtown area. Some of the places that Jim and I have deemed our favorites are now gone. Watching the news at 7:00 am on Christmas morning was not quite what I expected I would be doing. But there I was, watching the news. Wondering if people were harmed. We are still not 100% positive of the motive but we are 100% sure of the support of the Nashville people. Again, the kindness and generosity of people is a shining star in the midst of disaster. Jim and I personally donated to a married couple who lost everything in the bombing. They also happened to manage the apartments in the building they lived in so one of their jobs was also eliminated because of the bombing. A GoFund Me page was set up for them and the response was over the top. The best part of it though was the fact that these two women decided to share these funds with people they employed that no longer had jobs because of the bombing. Really? How many people would do that? Thank you 2020 for making the good in people shine.

2020, you have been a pain in the ass. But THANK YOU! You have reminded me, and hopefully others, that human kindness and generosity is what we all need to put first and foremost in our lives. I am looking forward to an easier 2021 but cannot honestly say that 2020 is a year I would regret living. It hasn't been easy, but there has definitely been good that came out of it. Thank you 2020!

Respectfully signed,

The girl that is so happy to see 2021! Love and kindness to all!