The Uncharted Year

As the dusk sets on the year 2020, one cannot help but dispense wisdom on the merits and demerits that this year has brought upon us.

Years come and years go.For many of us these bygone years leave indelible marks on our memories. Winter, spring, summer, and fall come every year.But what makes each of them worthy of expending our neurons?Some brought us joy, some brought sadness, birth or birthdays, marriage, educational successes, vocational triumphs, medical emergencies, perhaps a memorable vacation.Other than a memorable vacation, most of us can still relate to these emotional roller coasters during 2020.

The unique twist that has taught us to deal with life events is the virus pandemic.Virus, oh yes, the virus, and the challenges it has bestowed upon us.Corona Virus Disease of 2019 – COVID-19.

At the beginning we did not not know how to face this disease.It presented challenges in an uncharted territory. Medical personnel were stumped.Should we go to grocery store? Should we safely pick up the mail from our mailboxes?Should the children go to playgrounds?

As with any upcoming calamity, the first thing that disappears from store shelves is the toilet paper.Either an upcoming snowstorm, or a hurricane, tornado, the front line victim is the toilet paper.Don't we keep extra toilet paper in our cupboards in case we run out?Then why are the shelves empty?This will even boggle Andy Rooney's mind. (Rooney was a commentator on CBS's 60 minutes)

Despite 2020's ups and downs, it has not been a bad year.We have learned many new ways to conduct our lives.A new word has been added to our vocabulary – Zoom. Winners have been companies that provide us with communication technology: video chat has become a norm of conducting our daily professional and personal business.Running to the mall has been replaced by online shopping.We now insist on vendors that provide free shipping.Drive thru business of restaurants have exceeded all imagination.Ask Amazon if they had a good year.

Many countries have printed money as fast as they could.They have flooded the markets to alleviate the victim's blight.Government offering free loans, extending repayment deadlines for loans, rents, mortgages, etc.History books will be written on the wisdom of these unprecedented actions.Despite these desperate measures, the inflicted scars are deep and will be long lasting.

In my humble opinion, the largest victim has been – the personal contact, a hug, a handshake.The human interaction. Family and friends cannot sit and discuss insensible sensible topics.How do you play a game of football without 80,000 fans screaming in bleachers?The adrenaline source.

We humans are a social animal and we must have a social network.Yes, 2020 has given us the new iPhone, SpaceX's successful launches, scientists engineered plastic-eating "super-enzymes" that can break down bottles in days, and much more.But the social web is missing.

I am desperately hoping for the day that this imaginary wall that this pandemic has erected, will be torn down.

Prabhat Kumar

Anand Ashram 1964-70