Both of my children left their training wheels behind yesterday and rode on two wheels for the first time. It took years of encouragement and a bit of courage on the part of both kids, but once we began the process, both were riding on their own within 15 minutes.
As Charlie made his way around an empty parking lot with me jogging alongside, he said, “This might be the best day of my life.”
As Clara hurtled down the long, grassy slope and I released her for the first time, she shouted, “I’m doing it! I’m doing it! I’m doing it!”
By the end of the day, Elysha and I were eating hotdogs on the front lawn, watching our kids ride up and down the street on their own. As I watched them circle each other, I thought, “To hell with you, coronavirus. You will not define 2020 for me.”
I’m not blind to the world around me, My life has been upended by this pandemic. I’m teaching my students from home and missing them dearly. I’ve lost opportunities to travel the country, speaking to enormous audiences and earning at least a part of my living. Our vacation plans to Seattle, San Fransisco, and Niagara Falls have all been cancelled. Our children’s summer camp and large portions of our summertime fun are in jeopardy.
We also have friends who have been hospitalized for weeks, and we know people who have lost their lives to this terrible disease. I know many people who are currently out of work and suffering economically.
I’ve watched as countries like Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, Taiwan, Denmark, and New Zealand acted swiftly on a federal level to contain, control, and nearly eradicate this disease from their country through systematic testing and contact tracing on a national level while the United States has stumbled along, becoming the worldwide leader in both coronavirus infection and death. I’ve watched in disgust as the President and his sycophants fail to act, flaunt medical expert recommendations, promote dangerous drugs and ridiculous treatments, and lie about when and how they first reacted to this outbreak.
I’m not blind to any of these terrible facts.
I also know that one or more of my family members may ultimately contract the disease, too.
But my kids tossed aside their training wheels yesterday and rode their bikes for the first time on two-wheels. For Charlie, it was one of the best days of his life. For Clara, she was bursting with confidence and joy while hurtling down a grassy hill, doing something she thought she may never do.
To hell with you, coronavirus. You will not define 2020 for me.
I will continue to seek out and find moments like these. Hold onto them with all my might. Allow them to burn brightest in my heart and mind.
These are the moments that will define 2020 for me.
