Most conversations we’ve had this week have included the statement, “at this time last year”.
Talking to my parents, it was a year ago they quickly packed up to drive home from their southern vacation and didn’t stop along the way.
Talking to my sister, it was a year ago I last saw her as I traveled out west to see her for a quick weekend getaway.
Talking to friends, do you remember that great dinner we had together? Can you believe that concert was a year ago?
Talking to our kids, I can’t believe it was a year ago you were sent home for March Break and didn’t go back.
Talking to our clients, remember how uncertain we were about how the pandemic was going to affect the real estate market?
It’s a lot to process, and I think even with many unknowns still lying ahead of us, we should take a minute to recognize the significance of this anniversary. Lives have changed in ways we could not have imagined 365 days ago.
This year has taught us many things, so we thought it was time to go through some of our highs and lows.
HIghs
Watching local businesses become even more creative as they found ways to continue to serve their customers and clients safely. Shout outs to Simply Beautiful, Wildhood, Dirty Food, The Commoner, and all the green grocers along Roncy.
Seeing our kids adapt to being thrown in to online learning, in-class learning, online learning and back to in-class.
Feeling the love…as communities joined together to help neighbours, volunteer time & money, and found ways to stay connected to each other.
Finding amazing shops on Etsy to replace being able to go to the flea market. Like this local pillow shop, this Ancaster collector and this vintage print shop.
Being grateful for the arts. Savouring entertainment through cooking, books, music and television. Lots and lots of television.
Celebrating Wendy’s oldest getting into the university and program of her choice! Way to go C!
Receiving & sending care packages back and forth with my sister to brighen each other’s days.
Joining the crowd and having a pandemic puppy join our family.
Hearing that our physicians and loved ones are starting to get their vaccines.
Lows
Missing family & traditions.
Missing travel.
Missing long and lazy dinners in a restaurant with friends.
Missing sleeping through the night because of said pandemic puppy.
Missing in person business meetings.
Missing ‘before’.
There is no doubt that this pandemic has changed us and the world in ways we may not even recognize yet. Life won’t go back to ‘before’. Many of us will continue to work from home, families have changed for better or worse, we’ve seen gaps in all levels of our government and society we may not have seen before, and even if we don’t see it yet, we are different than we were 365 days ago.
The good news is, that with all of this happening around us and to us, the highs far outweigh the lows.
