WAVING GOODBYE TO 2020
T he start of a new year
tends to bring with
it great optimism
and hope for the
future. I have used it to start
diets, exercise programs and
other follies that usually did
not survive the first week. I
am weak, and I cannot resist
temptation – even where
there is none.
While 2020 was a nightmare, there
certainly have been worse years in history,
such as the Spanish Flu in 1918, and the
years of World War II. However, for my
personal memories, the current pandemic
and its effect on everyone worldwide has
been a lesson in humility and survivorship.
I, like most, believed the disruption to my
normal lifestyle would be relatively short,
a few months or so, and afterward, life
would return to whatever it had previously
been. Much to my surprise, the initial
COVID-19 quarantine brought about a
number of unexpected results for me.
Margaret and I discovered enjoyment in
not being on the go all the time. Relaxing
together at home was a treat, and is now
something we eagerly anticipate. When
normalcy returns, and it will, we are
By Aaron R. Fodiman
planning to change our former lifestyle
to a much more selective one. We expect
to spend our free time doing and going to
activities we truly enjoy. Our choices will
be dependent upon the values we have
established for ourselves during this crisis,
which gave us an opportunity to rethink
our lives. The world stopped, and we, like
everyone else, were jarred by the sudden
change to our usual routines. However,
as time went on, we found ourselves
enjoying our newfound lifestyle, which
gave us freedom to do those things we
had let slide for years because of how
busy we were, doing other seemingly
more important things. With nowhere to
be, we now often sit and watch the sunset
and other such delights, experiences we
142 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MARCH/APRIL 2021
never had time for before
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of course, we miss
seeing friends, going to live
performances, traveling,
dining at fine restaurants
and a multitude of other
wonderful activities that
occupied our lives before
COVID-19, but we have
realized that while we were
enjoying those things, we were missing
out on quiet times at home, the chance to
communicate at length with each other and
the opportunity to sleep without having
to set an alarm. Many of life’s simple
pleasures returned to us as a result of the
pandemic. While we do not look forward to
wearing masks forever, we do look forward
to more time at home with much less fear
of missing out on anything.
2021 may end up being our best year
ever. We hope it is for you, too. 9
COMMENTARY
I will remember 2020 as the year when more alcohol entered my body
through my hands than through my mouth.
GRAM