2020 Year in Review

What a year! Last year at this time, I was reflecting on the past decade: medical school, residency, fellowship, getting married, having 2 kids, 2 houses, etc. Returning from Mexico City this time last year I saw a small square sign at the Chicago O'Hare Airport that said, "Returning from Wuhan? Respiratory Symptoms? Turn here." "Hmm," I though, "I wonder what's going on in Wuhan?" Little did I know (nor did most of us know) what the significance of "Wuhan Respiratory Virus" was and what the next 12 months had in store for all of us. My birthday is 3 days before New Year's and my godmother, Rita, would always buy me the Life Magazine, "Year In Review" as a birthday present. I have a box of old issues. Most of the images and stories were honestly over my head and not that interesting or memorable to me. Now that she's gone, I want that "Year In Review" present now more than ever to remember this "unprecedented" year. 

2020. Where to begin? Let's start at the beginning. 

January - New Year's Day. Seth was in San Francisco having just attended an incredible Dead and Company New Year's Eve concert with Harmes while Marit, Theo and Mommy were out skiing at our local hill, Chester Bowl. Theo was racing down, weaving through the trees, and Marit followed. I brought up the rear when suddenly Marit, while doing the pizza, fell down and started screaming. She laid in the snow and wouldn't move her ski. I picked her up and she wouldn't put weight on her leg. I sent Theo down to the chalet to get ski patrol. A sled ride down the hill by ski patrol and a couple X-rays later, my fear was confirmed - "boot top" fracture of the tibia. She left the E.R. in a full leg cast and was non-weight bearing for 6 weeks. Not the news Seth wanted when he returned from his New Year's vacation. 

Pre-COVID, these were the days before "distance learning." She was able to go for a few hours in the morning but couldn't go outside and play. Maybe COVID will make some things better - like virtual teaching for kids stuck at home. I flew to Mexico City with my college friends, Annie and Cara, for a 5-day girls trip. We biked around the city and ate at fancy restaurants. Theo was attending school - full time and in person - 1st grade at Congdon. He took the bus everyday. Played with friends after school. Went to cub scout meetings and birthday parties. Competed in ski races at Chester Bowl (and even won a few races.) He played in an indoor soccer league for Gitchi Gummi. Besides one kid in a wheelchair, life was pretty much normal. 

February - Our big family ski trip this year was to Big Sky near Bozeman, MT. I attended a cardiology conference in the from 7-9 A.M. and 4-6 P.M. and we spent the rest of the day snowboarding. Theo was in ski school all day. Marit watched movies in day care (leg was still broken leg but she had a lower leg cast). Seth and I realized we needed snowboard lessons and as it turns out: you can teach old dogs new tricks! We enjoyed apres ski in the giant indoor/outdoor hot tub. The highlight of the trip was a day trip to West Yellowstone and Old Faithful. Picturesque herds of bison covered in white frost and snow, partially frozen waterfalls cascading through canyons, geysers spraying hot water and steam into the baby blue sky, and according to Theo, "Bubbling mud pits and other "stinky stuff" and a coyote."

March - When a quick trip to downtown Phoenix, AZ for a conference was nearly canceled, that was my first realization that there was a major public health issue brewing. Boxed lunches replaced buffet lunch, hand sanitizer stations were placed at every door, chairs were spread 6 feet apart, and prominent speakers from many major universities, including University of Washington, were canceling or presenting remotely due to travel bans from a novel virus from Wuhan, China. The early reports from hospitals in China and Italy and then New York painted a very grim picture: hospitals overflowing with critically ill patients, operating rooms being converted to ICUs, limited supply of personal protective equipment, rationing of ventilators, hospitals running out of oxygen, healthcare workers getting sick and dying, mass graves, 2-3% mortality rate and no known treatment or cure. We were screwed! I started sounding the alarm.

At first schools were canceled for 2 weeks, then 6, then the rest of the year. Most epidemiologists warned that large events and school would be canceled indefinitely but most Americans had no idea the scale of this pandemic. The stock market crashed. Travel came to a near complete halt. Essential workers became the new "Superheros." At work, new policies and procedures were created and changed on a daily basis as new information came out about this new coronavirus. In retrospect, Seth had just driven down to Minneapolis to attend one of the last in-person concerts of the year. March 17 marked the beginning of a new "normal." 

April - Pandemic, puzzles, playing outside with the neighbors, homeschool paper packets, and picnics to local state parks. We didn't get together for Easter but the Easter bunny still found our house.

May - The pandemic continues. Boy Scout Pinewood Derby was postponed then canceled. Birthday parties, Congdon cougar chase fundraiser canceled, weddings postponed, graduation parties canceled. While we enjoyed our togetherness as a family, we finally decided to expand our "bubble" and get together with Grandma and Grandpa Pastorius at the cabin for Memorial Day weekend. The ice was off the lake late so the water was chilly but it was a welcome change of scenery from our immediate family. 

June - First we canceled the flights for our family trip to Estes Park, CO and Rocky Mountain National Park and opted to drive. Then as the virus spread and the day camp was canceled to out of state residents at the resort, we decided less than a week before the trip to cancel. We decided we can hike the Superior Hiking Trail in our backyard without having to drive 18 hours. We celebrated Grandma and Grandpa Pastorius' 40th wedding anniversary on the North Shore. My Grandma's marathon, which I had been training for the past 5 months became "virtual." Once you've trained for 5 months, there's no turning back so I ran my first marathon with a few of my running friends. I was very happy that I hit my goal of a sub-four hour time. Seth played a lot of frisbee golf - an excellent socially distanced activity with friends. Marit got her ears pierced.

July - Theo turned eight. In lieu of an actual birthday party, we invited three of his closest friends to go for a bike ride to the local ice cream shop. It was the first time he had seen his friends since school was canceled in March. They "accidentally" ended up in Lake Superior and had to bike home shirtless. We spent a couple weekends at the cabin with Larry, Beth, Lauren and David Rocheford. We also enjoyed seeing Anne and Eric, Evie, Josie and the newest addition to the family, baby Lucy. Long pontoon rides, lawn games, laughing around the campfire, and lounging around outdoors was the theme of the summer. Grandpa John and Katie took Lauren, David, Theo and Marit camping near Tettegooche state park in July - their cousin's first camping trip ever. They enjoyed cliff jumping, swimming, hiking, and the zip line at the high ropes adventure park. Recreational soccer leagues were canceled for the kids. My two triathlons and other races were canceled. We had every weekend free!

August - Pre-pandemic, we had reserved a permit for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area entry point at Sawbill Lake. It was our first family canoe trip. We camped on an island in the middle of a clear blue lake surrounded by towering trees. The call of the loons was the loudest sound we heard. Being outdoors was a beautiful respite and opportunity to connect with the natural environment and forget about the ongoing pandemic and the increasingly political mask controversy for a few days. 

September - As the summer came to an end and people started to gather more, the rates of coronavirus started to pick up. Schools were faced with a tough decision whether to return to in person learning or to attempt an improved version of "distance learning." Duluth Public Schools opted for a hybrid approach with some students going full distance. It took a few weeks to get families the technology and teachers the training to get started. In person instruction didn't begin until the end of the month. Masks were required from the minute they got on the bus until when they got home. Bathroom and hall passes were required to limit how many kids used the bathrooms. Hand sanitizer was required before entering the classroom. Class sizes were only 9-12 kids since half the class attended Monday and Tuesday, and the other half, Thursday and Friday. We made a quick weekend trip up the North Shore to Grand Marais and Gunflint Trail to see the fall colors. Seth hosted his 3rd annual (and "socially distanced") Folf-a-Palooza with guys camping out in our backyard. Katie had PRK laser eye surgery because wearing N95 mask and face shield with glasses made it difficult for her to see during procedures. 

October - We planned a last minute camping trip with college friends to Wild River State Park and all but one family canceled when the nighttime temps dipped below freezing. We stuck it out for 2 nights and the kids did great in our first "winter" camping trip. The neighborhood decided to do a "socially distanced" trick or treating. Neighbors set the candy out in ziploc or paper bags or in bowls at their door or often at the end of their driveways so to avoid face to face contact. Kids with costumes that didn't include a mask also wore masks. I kept sane by running 4-5 days a week with my neighborhood running group.

November - The election. Former VP Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his VP - the first female. The 45th President, Donald Trump and VP Mike Pence, were increasingly more interested in economic recovery and less concerned about the millions of people getting coronavirus. The pandemic ravaged on, especially in the Midwest. It personally affected our family as two of my uncles were hospitalized and one died. Schools were shut down again and parents were responsible for full time "distance learning". The state shut down a 2nd time but this time for only four weeks. We canceled Thanksgiving plans with family in hope that a "Zoom-giving" would allow us to have a in person celebration next year. Then, the day before Thanksgiving, we were sledding at Holy Rosary hill and Marit crashed into the fence. Next stop, the orthopedic urgent care. A couple x-rays confirmed a burst fracture of the radial bone in the arm and Marit came home with cast #2 of 2020. We purchased a patio heater and hosted a few ladies nights outside on the deck. 

December - "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there." We decorated the house and listed to carols. The Bentleyville lights display transitioned to a drive through display. No pictures with Santa (but we did get to have a Zoom meeting with him and learn about the time-space continuum). Marit turned 6 and we The first coronavirus vaccine was approved. Within days after they started vaccinating essential health workers, I received a post-it note on my computer stating I needed to call to schedule my vaccine. It was the best present ever! I happily signed up and posted a selfie getting the first shot. We could see the light at the end of the tunnel. We quarantined at home for a week and spent New Year's Eve at the cabin ice skating on the black ice on the lake, snowshoeing and sledding down the hill. Seth enjoyed winning his Fantasy Football league and not one but two bourbon lotteries at local liquor stores. 

Overall, 2020 was quite a year. Unprecedented as some (ok many) people have said. In the end, 2020 taught us about the things that are important in life: health, love, and family and friends. It also taught us how to be flexible and deal with uncertainty, about resiliency and how to be grateful for the little things, and about the importance of public health and democracy.  

Today, as the 46th President of the United States, Mr. Joe Biden, takes his oath, there is a palpable sense of relief. Relief that despite the mob at the Capital, there was a peaceful transition of power. Relief that the new administration respects women and believes in science. Relief that they will prioritize basic human rights, like the right to life and liberty, freedom of opinion and expression, right to work and education, and right to basic healthcare without discrimination. Relief that the vaccine roll-out will ramp up and so those over 65 years, teachers, first responders, and others in high risk groups can be protected. Relief for the families of the 400,000 people, including my Studly Uncle Larry, whose lives were lost due to COVID-19. Relief for everyone waiting to mourn together or celebrate other life events together in person again. Relief that schools might reopen so children can see their friends and learn. Relief that parents can return to work without also having to homeschool their kids. Relief that we can see our grandparents and cousins and friends again. Relief that maybe we can dine at a restaurant or board an airplane again. Relief that life might return to normal soon. Cheers to 2021! Let's hope it isn't quite as "unprecedented" as 2020.