2020: A year in review

What a year it has been...seriously. If there is one word I could use to summarize my feelings about the year, it probably would be 'survived'. I survived the year 2020. While tomorrow, a new year, isn't going to change everything overnight, it at least feels nice to have some (emotional) closure to this year. I know life is continuous without a hard reset button, but this might be a good excuse to hit a soft reset button reset to start the year. At least writing 2021 might give us a sense of renewal. I am most thankful for our health, being able to keep our full-time jobs, and technology to stay connected with long distanced families and friends. As a spouse of a healthcare worker, I am so grateful for all the frontline workers (not just the healthcare workers) that keep our lives going. And truly, the best part of this year has been our daughter Zoe. She has been our light to a year full of sorrow and darkness.

Here is a quick list of things I want to remember about 2020.

(Early) March - Cancun trip. This was our first international trip together (if you exclude our "walk" to the Canadian border in October 2019). We returned home right before the pandemic started shutting everything down.

(Mid) March - the start of remote working. I was already expected to begin remote working for my current employer once we moved to Houston in June, but this arrangement unexpectedly started when everything was shut down and the university shifted the whole operation remotely (with little to no notice) due to the pandemic. It marked the start of the most stressful months (especially March through July) of my personal and professional life. I'm still learning to navigate my new reality to this day, but I never want to forget all the great and difficult moments working (my job), caring for Zoe, and preparing for a big move at the same time. In some ways, this pandemic allowed me to witness all of her development milestones as well; I'm so grateful for those joyous moments. I might have shed some pounds during this period, but it had made me more resilient.

(Early) June - Zoe's 1st birthday. Never did we imagine that "Zoom party" was going to be a thing, but it turned out to be a thing after all. But hey, we still had fun the best we could!

(Late) June - We moved from St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX for Z's fellowship. Z finished 6 years of surgical residency (that we forgot to take pictures at the ceremony dinner because we were exhausted from moving). Leaving our home of 6 years was sad but moving back to our old stomping ground was a nice homecoming for us. We do miss having 4 seasons, though.

October - My 34th birthday. Despite moving to Houston where many of our friends live, we weren't able to get together often because of CDC recommendations. Z surprised me with a weekend full of birthday treats, including a birthday picnic with friends. This really helped recharge my soul.

November - Family photos. Our most dressed up day after a year of yoga pants. I was glad to find out that I still have some clothes to fit in.

December 31st - Celebrating New Year's Eve. It was a cold (for Houston at least), very windy last day of the year, but we spent some quality family time at the Space Center Houston for Galaxy Lights. Zoe loved splashing in the puddles and watching lights with daddy.

Honestly, there was a lot more I wanted to reflect and write about this year. But this was a hard hard year and reflecting such heavy, complicated emotions right now is just a little too much. Maybe one day...or never, but it won't be tonight. I'm relieved to make it through as a mom and as a person. This year brought out my biggest flaws and vulnerabilities but also the resiliency that I never knew I had so I'll take whatever successes that I think I earned. A lot of lessons learned... So, 2020 - goodbye and don't come back!

2021, let's do better.