COVID, Dementors, Fall, and Hope
It’s fall, ya’ll!
Even as I typed that, I cringed inside a little bit. Ronny has long-embraced saying y’all and while I’ve grown accustomed to it, I just cannot bring myself to use it in my speech. To my southern friends, keep the charm coming, just know I’ll be sticking with “you guys” for the foreseeable future.
At any rate, just wanted to pop in to say we hope your transition into this new season is bringing a wave of refreshment. Fall and all the lovely things that come with it like leaves changing color, crisp air, the cozy clothes, earthy color tones, warm beverages, cinnamon, beginning of the school season, and anticipation of the holidays…it’s all brought with it a large wave of comfort after this wild year we’ve been living so far.
As we begin to have more of 2020 in the rearview mirror than before us, I hope we can all have the chance to recognize and grieve some of the unfortunate changes the pandemic brought, like missed opportunities, missed celebrations, loved ones passing, whatever the case may be for you. I think we can all agree 2020 took some things we weren’t expecting to lose.
Brief side note, we did a mini-bachelorette celebration for Ronny’s sister, Allie, during our visit to Pennsylvania (where I sit as I write this). Allie LOVES Harry Potter so we brought that into our decorations. One statement I wrote was the following:
COVID-19 is to 2020 what Dementors are to Happiness
A bit dramatic, but at least somewhat humorous.
As I’ve thought about it more, our little family has actually benefited from the results of the pandemic far more than we’ve been poorly impacted. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to get to co-parent for at least the first six months of Liam’s life together since we’ve both been working from home. Working remotely brings with it the ability to have longer visits with family in Michigan and Pennsylvania. All in all, we’ve gotten the gift of time.
I realize not everyone has experienced the positive side. Many have had to change plans for their weddings, graduations, sports, and college-life have been drastically altered for students, jobs and lives have been lost. It’s been rough. Devastating, even. And to all of you who have had big life moments changed, I’m sorry. I pray things begin to improve for you.
So I say again, now that more of 2020 is behind us than before us, I hope we can look for the positives in the challenges. There have been little moments, at the very least, that would not have happened otherwise.
Maybe I’ve got Thanksgiving on the brain. Whatever the case may be, I’m trying to be grateful for what has happened despite a global pandemic, or perhaps, as a result of it. If you’re not there yet, if you’re jazzed to watch the clock tick over to 2021, I get it.
Fortunately, nature keeps pressing on whether we’re ready or not. Thank goodness for seasons.
Hello, fall. You are most welcome.
Love,
Casey, Ronny, and Liam
