Reflections of 2020

Oh what a year it has been! For my family, 2020 started in usual fashion, adult children doing their own thing and for my husband & I, it was just another year starting out with the privilege to be looking after this little beauty for the first weekend of 2020…..

Little beauty!!!

As the year rolled on from January to February all the world was dismayed to hear about a “killer virus” named COVID-19.

At the time I had no idea of the extent of impact this would have on all our lives. With the Queensland boarders closing to other states and travel restrictions in Queensland limiting us all to our local areas, families were cut off from seeing each other and our elderly were unable to have visitors in nursing homes.

On a personal level, my cruise I had booked for June was cancelled, leaving us, like thousands of others chasing for our refund. Family get together’s had to be cancelled and work life changed from going into the office Monday to Friday to work alternating between home and the office with Skype meeting’s to keep up to date with colleagues. 

Throughout it all I have been very fortunate not to have serious illness or job loss affect my family but the day to day constant vigil of maintaining social distancing, sanitizing and lack of catch ups with friends and distant family does take a toll on one’s spirit. Regular phone calls, texts and zoom catch ups certainly helped along with finding joy in the little things like spending an afternoon in the garden, watching a beautiful sunset and witnessing the care and support shown by total strangers to those in need.

As we now relax some of the restrictions and Queenslander’s are free to travel around the state, people are adapting to the new normal. I have enjoyed trips out of town, to the beach and family get together’s once again. It saddens me to hear of the deaths that are still occurring due to this terrible virus and I hope and pray a vaccine can be found soon.

Written by Kathy Harbort - ReGen’s receptionist