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Dear 2020, you won't be missed

by CAROL SHIRK KNAPP Contributing Writer
| December 30, 2020 1:00 AM

Dear 2020,

I don't suppose you had any idea what you were springing on us — or did you? Do you plan ahead — or just let the days fall where they land? We had such a clever wordplay going with the “2020 vision” thing. You were set up to be a very good year.

How'd the virus sneak in — travel the globe as if it owned the place? Obviously you had your eyes closed. So much for 2020 vision.

Life changed for everyone. It placed sorrow and struggle and loneliness and limitations on most. Freedoms in the U.S. we've accepted as ours suddenly weren't. Being at the hospital with a sick family member. Dining out. Traveling. Celebrations. Attending school. Choices on the grocery shelves. Rubbing elbows around a table. Just getting together with each other.

You've thrown plenty of other turmoil in the year. Or it's been brewing and it just chose you to finally show up. We as a people are finding it very difficult to unite on much of anything. Except this — everyone is relieved you're about over. Whether it's your fault or not it happened on your watch.

You did do this — and it's not a small thing. You taught us appreciation for the sorts of things we might not have counted as being much. For all that had been going right in our lives.

And you've given wider voice to deep human concerns needing to be heard.

You've created real health care heroes. Made possible a lot of selfless giving. Caused us to reach out to one another in innovative ways. Shown us our human spirit for triumph in adversity is still going strong.

Still and all, there's going to be a huge celebration this week over your demise. You've notched your place in history. Probably not what you hoped a year ago. But facts are facts. At least I think they are. And just about no one wants you hanging around.

Maybe one day we'll see it different. But it's going to take a long time. I wouldn't wait up late.

Dear 2021,

I hope you've read this letter. And paid close attention. We're dreaming big.