Things That Helped Me Survive 2020

 

2020 is almost over and I think I can safely say that it was not the year any of us expected it to be.  For my family and me it started in New Orleans followed by a trip to Disney World.  Then the pandemic hit.  For us it really wasn't that terrible at first.  My husband could easily work from home (and has since March) so our income wasn't impacted and my son was homeschooled so there wasn't any huge adjustment.  Our travel plans and field trips were obviously canceled but other then that life went on pretty much as normal.  Until June 18.  That was the day our never sick 10 year old was diagnosed with leukemia (ALL) and the next day we found ourselves being transported to Memphis, TN in an ambulance.   But here we are at the end and while I have no idea what 2021 holds for us here are a few things that got me through 2020.

1.  St Jude Children's Research Hospital - I had heard of St Jude of course and I was familiar with the story of Danny Thomas and the creation of this hospital to find cures for childhood cancer.  I've always been a bit skeptical about big charities and St Jude is one of the biggest so I figured there had to be a catch.  But there isn't.  Since Will was diagnosed during COVID he's never gotten to experience the fun atmosphere that St Jude is so famous for but every medical person we dealt with was amazing and oh so kind and the affiliate has been just as great.  We will be going back to Memphis in February and I'm already looking forward to seeing some of them again.  And that's not even considering that the cure rate for the type of leukemia Will has has improved by more then 90% since St Jude opened its doors.  If you are ever looking for a place to donate or raise money for that really makes a difference I can't recommend St Jude enough.

2.  This cat - One of the best things about getting our own apartment in Memphis was that we could bring our cat.  I must confess - I've never been much of a cat person.  I've never disliked them but I've always preferred dogs - and I'm allergic to cats.  But Comet is kind of like a dog personality in cat form plus he's not destructive or messy.  He's not perfect.  He needs lots of attention and wakes us up periodically at night to be petted but he's got such a funny personality we don't mind too much.  Plus, he's pretty much an ideal cat for when you're not feeling good.  There is nothing he loves more then to get under the blankets and snuggle with you.  And he doesn't mind being a pillow periodically either.

3.  Reading - It's not shocking that I enjoy reading but this year it has really kept me sane.  I learned that it was best to never let my mind idle and sometimes TV wouldn't be enough to distract me but most of the time a book was either in audio or a regular book.

4.  YouTube - I watched a ton of YouTube this year.  It was perfect to have in the background or for quick bits of distraction.  Some of my favorite channels are - Bailey Sarian (her Murder and Makeup Mondays are the BEST - even if you're not into makeup), Lil's Vintage World (love her book reviews and she did a series on Tudor Queens that was fascinating), The Try Channel (because watching Irish people try all kinds of different stuff is weirdly hilarious) and This Gathered Nest (this is the only family channel I watch but I like that they seem respectful of their kids' privacy AND they have a small farm with al kinds of different animals and it is incredibly entertaining.)

5.  Bagels and Cream Cheese - Seriously, I'm pretty sure this was all I ate for at least a month and a half.  Big fan of the whipped cream cheese especially.

So what helped you survive 2020?