2020 and my Retirement…

How funny that the year I retire is in the 21st century worldwide Pandemic. Coronavirus or COVID-19 as it will be known throughout history. It was the start of a leap year, so we knew that February would bring an extra calendar day but we were not prepared for a country as big as the USA to shutdown on March 15th. We also, had a two week mandated quarantine that, for some of us, went as late as November. Unbelievable how quickly we lost 200,000 people to the virus.

So March turned out to be a year long and we don’t know what 2021 holds yet – cause it’s only October 2020. The need for PPE (personal protective equipment) for frontline workers was in great shortage. Ventilators and N95 masks couldn’t be found. The world of seamstresses came to the aid of their country.

We begin starting small Facebook pages and websites for people to volunteer to sew face masks. Then we spread the word to let people know that they could requests masks at no cost. Literally thousands of sewing artists pulled their supplies together and began sewing face masks. it was an incredible example of unconditional service. I know several donated their financial support personally to me so that I could continue to replace supplies. I joined two groups back to back and I was slowly adding up to 4000 masks over six months. I had a group helping out known as the Sewfisticated Sisters. One good friend paired with me early on and she consistently did 50 and 100 masks per week or two weeks. What a servant! That group did 650 for a school and several hundred more in smaller requests. We came together for the cause that was incredibly demanding as the need was so huge across the country.

Then there was the 2020 election and all the ugliness that seems to rear its head during an election year. So much hate and anger and it was the first time in my life that I saw people wanting to erase history and all the hurt that comes with mistreatment of humans. It was a voice to be heard but many used it to advance their own personal agendas. Abuse of power, Abuse of races, abuse within the ranks of law enforcement, and abuse of children by religious leaders, sex trafficking and domestic abuse within homes because of a quarantine. It is a year that has turned into one with no end in sight. Death, disease, everyday heroes and frontline workers will be what we will talk about for years.

But there is one ‘constant’… we are not and never will be in control of the universe, that, my friends is left for the almighty God who has all power for what is to come. If we experience nothing more than this moment of realization, then we above all would be considered very wise in this world in which we live. because of this I do not fear for tomorrow or what is ahead but manage only to take care of what is happening today. Make today great and live your best life.