Everyone is talking about “how bad” 2020 was and believe me I hear them loud and clear. I cannot say those words exactly, 2020 was not a “bad year” it was a year full of challenges, unexpected happenings and great accomplishments.
My year started with a break-in at our cabin up in the mountains of Eastern Washington. They smashed our doors, took our stuff and violated our privacy. My Husband was more affected than I was, probably because they took his rifle, his special knives, his tools, his booze and his clothes. Apparently they just wanted my socks and ski gear, it can be cold up here. It was a traumatic event and very time consuming, reporting to the Police, insurance companies, replacing items and writing lists and lists of what was taken. To this day we still come across things that were taken that we had not remembered. The only saving grace was that they did not trash the place, spray paint the walls or shred up the furniture, thank you burglars.
Off we went to a conference, where we had planned to ski but oh, we have no gear, that’s right it was taken.
As we drove home across the mountains and snow covered plains we started to hear about the infamous Covid 19 virus. Little did we know how that those few words were going to control every inch of our lives for the next year.
We were fortunate that our everyday lives were not really affected. My husband worked his 60 hours a week as usual but the stress of every day wearing masks, gowns, goggles, carrying hand sanitizer in every pocket and not knowing what was really going on soon became very tiring. Everyone did what they needed to do to keep themselves and their patients safe.
Along came April and we knew a little more about this virus but it was digging its heels in and taking hold. A bittersweet phone call landed in my living room one night announcing that my Mum, living in the UK, had contracted the virus and died a few days later. I was relieved that she had finally been able to let go after suffering with dementia for so long and I wasn’t upset that she died of Covid 19, she was very peaceful. What I struggled with was that having been a Hospice Nurse for so long I could not be at my own mother’s side. I have been with 100’s of other people’s mothers but not my own, that was tough. I know she got excellent care and my brother was allowed in to say goodbye but it gave me a whole new perspective for all those families whom I call to notify them of their loved one’s death and they were not able to be there for whatever reason. I definitely do not take it lightly. For her Funeral we sat on the Family room couch at 7am, listening to her 6 person service over the phone. Ironically they only place they could get reception was to put the phone on her coffin, love you Mum.
Like everyone else our vacations were cancelled, we moved them to later dates and then moved them again. I’m still trying to get to the UK to see my dad but I don’t think it will be anytime soon.
In the midst of all this we decided towards the end of the Summer that we would sell our house on the West side of Washington, that my husband would retire at the end of the year and we would move full time to Eastern Washington. So off I went at full throttle, did 9 months of work on our house and gardens in 6 weeks, negotiated contracts, packed up 6000 sq ft of living space and drove it across the State. Trip after trip after trip. Put over 10,000 miles on our truck, got my coffee card punched more than I knew possible and developed box hauling biceps that shocked even me. I drove through rain, hail, snow, fog, ice and wind, I would never recommend moving in November when a mountain pass is involved.
It was a great relief to have sold our house, for my Husband to have retired and to be headed for the next phase of his life. Great things are to come we will be building our forever home, taking time to enjoy the world and friends around us, I will be concentrating on full time Legal Nurse Consulting and we are expecting our first Grandchild in May.
So as I look back at 2020, I feel stronger, bolder, relieved and grateful. Our House is sold, my Mum is at peace, my Husband retired and I am looking forward to a great year of Legal Nurse Consulting. See you there.