This is not intended as a note of self-pity but rather a kind of reminder for me in the future. 2020 will be a famously challenging year. My experience was far less painful than many due to an array of privileges.
But goodness, I still found it stressful — and fast changing. One way I found myself thinking about it was by keeping a very strange list of the actual conversations I had with family, friends and coworkers this year.
Future me, don’t forget it. Here they in a chronological order:
- Must we cancel our upcoming events for public health reasons even though they generate revenue for our company?
- Should we close the office indefinitely, although public health officials have not yet recommended it?
- Ought I postpone or cancel the much-planned 10th annual Philly Tech Week, for which we’ve already put out some $100,000 in expenses?
- Should we home birth our first-born child because the health system might collapse?
- Will I be able to make our next company payroll?
- How long much a family member fully quarantine to see our first child?
- Must I consider temporary pay cuts for our staff?
- Can we see family and friends outside if we wear masks and remain distant?
- What childcare options will we consider during this pandemic?
- What do we do now that our family member has been committed by their therapist?
- What is my responsibility for engaging with friends and acquaintances who are voicing what I view to be reprehensibly undemocratic views?
- Is it helpful or harmful for our newsroom to call this an attempted presidential coup?
- Despite covid-19 restrictions, should I be in attendance for this family member’s brain surgery?
Good riddance 2020.
