Back in January, Derek posted this picture to Facebook. Showing off their new chair, and a certain special someone sitting in it. While it will likely fade into a forgotten memory, Bernie Sanders - sitting cross-legged with unique mittens on ... was the subject of MANY memes following the inauguration of President Joe Biden January 2021.
Here's just a small sampling of what was invading the internet ...
Photoshopping Bernie into classic scenes with hilarious results!
... and a few more!
Mitten memes ... until the next big thing comes along!
I titled this post "Covid 2020" ... although of course it's actually Covid-19, as the first cases were documented there at the end of 2019. But it was 2020 when most people realized that this coronavirus was going to impact everyone and everything. Shall we start off with some poetry?
COVID Limericks: (by Scott Westra 2020)
Because of the virus Corona
I’ve adopted a different persona
It’s not all that great
To self-isolate
And spend way too much time alona.
It is critical that we all get checked
To insure were not poised to infect
Be up to the task
And wear the darn mask
Or the economy’s sure to get wrecked.
Forgive my cough and my wheeze
Heaven forbid I will sneeze
Just don’t duck for cover
And you will discover
It’s just seasonal allergies!
It was just a little ironic ...
As the year started, "Coronavirus" and "Covid-19" was something many people had heard of, but it was something that was a world away. It got closer. It was January when the news announced that the first case was here in the states. In March, there was a case in Utah. Still, it didn't seem real.
It was March 11 when Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive, and the NBA shut down. (All other sports would follow suit. There was no "March Madness" and the NFL draft was done virtually, no school or community competitions allowed. The 2020 Olympics were postponed). In the following days, everything changed. Schools attempted to move to online learning, churches and temples shut their doors, missionaries came home and countries closed their borders. Employers transitioned to "work at home" for all who could. For a time, playgrounds were taped off. Funerals and weddings could only allow limited attendance. No big graduation ceremony for college/high school seniors. Drive-by parades became the only sort of celebration.
Restaurants were open only for take-out (this was encouraged, to help keep the economy going). Movie theaters, gyms, libraries, salons ... all closed. Disneyland closed and the Las Vegas strip shut down. Only "essential" businesses are allowed to remain open, and most would offer "contactless" shopping (order online and pickup). "Essential Worker" was a new buzzword, as was "social distancing". Other phrases: out of an abundance of caution, super-spreader, uncertain times, flatten the curve, contact tracing, bubble, quaranteam, remote learning, new normal, "blursday" (as time lost its meaning), Zoom and P.P.E (personal protective equipment).
Stores and supplies were hit hard. There were shortages of sanitizer, disinfectant ... toilet paper. Many food items would be very hit and miss, and there were limits placed on most items. Pasta, yeast, flour, sugar, milk, bread. You never knew if you'd be able to get what you wanted/needed. Stores that had previously been open 24-hours now closed for cleaning, rest and restocking. For a time, the number of customers was capped. There were lines outside Costo. There were arrows indicating one-way aisles. Soon masks were mandatory, and there were plexi-glass dividers between workers and customers. Home delivery became very popular! There were other shortages ... bikes, trampolines, game systems, home gym equipment. Almost everything was affected, timelines for manufacturing and shipping were much slower. There was an aluminum shortage that affected cans of soda. Even money ... a coin shortage!
Masks, gloves, face shields, respirators ... there wasn't enough to go around. There was a lot of back and forth about masks. First saying that PPE should be preserved for the medical community, that they weren't really effective for the general public. Many doctors/dentists shut down ("telemed" appointments were encouraged) for all but emergency services, as much to control materials as contact. People started sewing handmade cloth masks, but there were then shortages of elastic and fabric and it was still questioned if they provided protection. The thought was that wearing a mask may not protect the wearer as much as those around them. "I wear my mask for you, you wear your mask for me." A few months in, and masks were mandatory and were being sold everywhere. Reusable (washable) fabric masks and disposable - the more protective N95 masks continued to be in short supply. SO much contention and politicizing of masks and procedures.
As things escalated in March, the Governor of Utah issued a "Stay safe, stay at home" directive for two weeks. Only essential movement outside of the home. This was an attempt to "flatten the curve", knowing that there still would be spread, but trying to control/slow it so that the hospitals would not become overwhelmed. Some obeyed, some pushed back.
Restaurants, gyms and salons opened up again, with restrictions and safety protocols in place. Many people went back to work, but "work at home" will likely never be as limited, often still an option. Some businesses did not survive the shutdown, and unemployment/layoffs were issues for many. A stimulus package put money into most American's bank accounts ($1200). The NBA finally finished the season, with the players staying in a "bubble" with no contact with the world outside. School started up again in August. The Salt Lake School District was only online, but all the other school districts offered options for online or in-person learning. The kids had to wear masks. There were many quarantines and school shut-downs as positive cases were tracked.
In the Spring, everyone watched as the numbers of cases increased ... in Utah, cases topped 100, then 200. Then there were 500 cases in a day. At first, testing was limited. Specific criteria had to be met; certain symptoms, travel from certain locations or contact with a positive person. Still there were long lines for an uncomfortable test (nasal swab). Soon there were options for a saliva test. Tests were required for travel and before medical procedures. As school started, there was required testing (every two weeks) for college students and student-athletes. Now, the norm for daily positive cases was in the thousands (2000-5000), with a number of covid-related deaths reported daily as well. Controversy and conspiracy theories were everywhere (the "plandemic", it's all a ruse, EVERY death is counted as Covid, people are testing positive who didn't take the test, it's all so the government can take away all our freedoms, the virus was made in a lab and released, everything should open/herd immunity, masks are dangerous or just don't work, this medication or that could be a cure, it's just the flu, etc, etc.) There was some good too though, as people attempted to work together, and there were many stories of environmental recovery.
As time went on, most hospitals were at capacity and doctors and nurses were exhausted. Some states had crises earlier on (New York was hit hard in April/May) and every state was attempting control in their own way (as were countries around the world). The Governor of Utah set a second two-week shutdown mid-November. People were encouraged not to gather with family for Thanksgiving or Christmas. As the year ended, a few companies had come out with vaccines, which were starting to be distributed (more controversy), but no one really knows how effective they will be, or if people will even remain immune after recovering from the virus. But there is a feeling of hope ...
Some days, life still felt normal (especially for introverts) ...
Other days you'd open your eyes and see how odd it all was!
If you have additional memories/thoughts for your family,
or for Utah/US/World that you'd like to add, just email me and I'll update!
2020 ... a year that will be remembered, but one that many might like to forget. There was the Westra Christmas Newsletter and the Annual Slideshow for 2020 which gives a pretty good look at what everyone was up to. The annual Father's Day party still happened ... but Covid canceled a family reunion and the Christmas Eve party.
There were three weddings ...
One pre-pandemic, one RIGHT before things shut down, and one right in the middle of it all.
Several of the younger generation became homeowners... and this year there has been planning for a new home for Shane&Alicia with a G-suite (section for Margie/Lamar). There was also new baby news!
There were the annual ouchies!
Cal broke his foot ... the FOURTH time. Scott had to have surgery on his spine. Derek decided to try a trip to the ER. Kim had surgery on her ear and Conner ended the year as Cal had begun, except he managed a bigger break that required surgery. Covid was an issue for a few of the families (Camden was the first, then some of Scott's and all the Jensens) but happily no extreme cases.
Ah Covid ... that has its own blog post, with thoughts and memories (and memes!) from the year (Covid 2020). There was also the EARTHQUAKE in March, with aftershocks afterward. There were worrisome wildfires here in Utah, and worse ones in nearby states, causing smoky skies ... and spooky red skies. There was a night of wild winds that left some Utah residents without power for weeks. The airport was redone, Derek's old boss bought the Utah Jazz, a mysterious "monolith" appeared in the Utah desert and Jupiter and Saturn aligned to create the "Christmas Star"...
The year started with fires across Australia. Kobe Bryant and others died in a helicopter crash. The Black Lives Matter movement made a mark, and there were protests and riots, in Utah and across the US. There was a plethora of politics and a presidential election. Whew!
Back to the Westra Clan...
Trying to add a little extra to what was in the Christmas Newsletter blurb.
Most snapshots are also in the slideshow.
Scott and Amy ... fun to have Mckenna and Spencer back in Utah. Some boating and razor riding, and S&A cheering on the cheerleaders. Amy and Taylee took a trip to Disney World. Kemery and Mitch got a house, a dog and now a new baby on the way!
Yea, a new and complete family photo for the Chris and Kim crew! A marriage, and a missionary home (temporarily). Lots of hiking, doting on a granddaughter and photo fun. Chris is good at keeping in touch with weekly email updates.
Wendy sends email updates fairly often and keeps a family blog with all their activities as well as an annual Christmas post to recap their year (see it here). A wedding, a missionary home, college graduation and so much more!
The Blackham's also had a wedding, and once they moved Callahan out, there was a bunch of renovation (new carpet and paint). Gray got a new truck, and some new gadgets for his kitchen/cooking. Jen sent out monthly email updates (and adds them to the family blog as well).
Shane and Alicia have celebrated being back in Utah/snow with several ski trips. There was a new family car (Kia Telluride), a driver's license for Adria, as well as teaching her to drive a stick in Grandpa's little blue truck. Dancing and biking and home improvement projects ... as well as exciting home plans for the future!
Derek and Danielle always have oodles of adventures going on! So many fun photos to feature. Many home improvement projects, music and art enterprises and their summer went to the birds (with them documenting both a robin's nest and a hummingbird's nest). If you follow Derek on Facebook/Instagram you'll be pretty connected with all that's going on.
The words of one of my favorite poems (and hymn), I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, came into my mind and I pondered again those words and the feelings they conveyed.
As I pondered my thoughts, I penned two additional stanzas/verses to this poem. I shared them with my family on Christmas and share them with you now.
Merry Christmas.
Scott
Text: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807–1882; verses 6 and 7 by Scott Edward Westra, December 25, 2020
It started back in 2006 ... it was Grayson who made the first family slide show, featuring photos from the past year set to music. Then it became a tradition. Gray continued making them for a few years, then Jen took over in 2010. So here's 2020, which for the first time is not making its premiere at the Westra Family Christmas Eve party (Covid Cancellations!) But thanks to youtube (and a backup in Dropbox/GoogleDrive) the family can still watch and relive the year ... masks and all!
The annual, official, Westra Newsletter going out from Mom/Margie and Dad/LaMar. Derek put it together, after asking for updated pictures and "blurbs" from everyone. Jen thought she was so fast, and asked if she was first (and if she got a prize) and got the surprising reply that SCOTT had been first with a photo ... and Scott replied that he had sent his update to his family for approval before sending it on, but that he might have sent it in too if he'd known it was a competition ;) For the actual PDF (with working links and enlarging capabilities) check out Westra 2020.
In December of 2020, as part of the "Light the World" challenge, Mom/Margie shared a couple stories about prayer from her youth (Mom's Memories). Not long after, Derek shared a story as well. Here it is.
God Has a Sense of Humor (Ab-Wheel Story)
Shared by Derek Westra via email, December 2020
When I had only been on my mission to Brazil a couple of months – I had this strong desire for a piece of exercise equipment that I had used every day before my mission – it was called an ab-wheel. I’m not sure why I wanted it so bad, but I have always hated sit-ups and they just weren’t doing it for me out there and I felt like I was losing my six-pack. :) My companion was a Brazilian named Elder Mariano, and while I still didn’t know the language very well yet, I told him about the ab-wheel and asked if I could find one in Brazil somewhere. He had never heard of one but said I should mention it to some of the members to see if they had. I did this at several houses, but no one had ever heard of one. Since I was new to Portuguese, I remember struggling to explain what this was. “E uma roda. Como… uma roda plastica, pequena que voce usa para fazer exercicios. Assim – eu vou te mostrar.”
I’d say: “It’s like a plastic wheel with handles that you use on the floor to do exercises, like this!” Then I’d try to demonstrate – which must have look ridiculous. One of the members was taking a trip to Sao Paulo to go to Wal-Mart and I asked them to look for one and buy it for me and I’d pay them back, but they couldn’t find one. I became sort of obsessed with finding one and since missionary work can be somewhat monotonous and unimaginative, I started working my new-found obsession into our door approaches. “Hey there – I was hoping you could help me with something: I’m an American and I’m looking for this exercise thing (I’d describe it) have you heard of this?” The answer was always no, but Brazilians love helping and to ask for a favor (a glass of water or help with an address) was always a better, more effective approach then just telling them we wanted to share a message.
My companion started to really tire of my obsession with finding an ab-wheel. I could tell it was starting to bother him, but I didn’t know a ton of Portuguese yet and I had gotten pretty practiced at my approach so I kept using it. Finally, one morning during our companionship prayer before leaving the apartment, Elder Marino was saying the prayer and said (with a lot of pent-up frustration): “Heavenly Father, please help us today to find Elder Westra’s stupid ab-wheel so he can stop talking about it.” I opened my eyes to scowl at him, but this was as earnest and sincere as I’d ever seen him. I got the hint that he had had enough and decided to drop it.
We went out knocking doors as usual and I avoided the “ab-wheel” approach since I knew my Senior Companion was at his wit’s end. But one street in, we came to a house where this really strong guy was exercising out front with his shirt off (doing pull-ups). I looked at my companion and he said “Okay – ask about the thing.” I went up to the guy and said, “Excuse me, but you look really strong and like you exercise a lot.” He was flattered and entertained by where this was going. I said, “I’m an American, and there is this one piece of exercise equipment that I can’t find anywhere in this country, it’s called an “Ab-wheel.”’ His eyes lit up and he got really excited. “They don’t make it here.” He said. But he had a huge smile, like he knew something I didn’t. “But I do!” He told us to come in his house and he had three of these home-made ab-wheels that he had made out of wood and broom handles. “I’ve seen these on TV, but they are only in the United States – I wanted to try one so I made a prototype out of wood. It’s not perfect, I’m still working on the design, but this ought to take care of you.” He handed me one of his three wood prototypes and said “It’s yours.” I looked at Elder Mariano and he was speechless. We had somehow found “Elder Westra’s stupid ab-wheel” on the day that he earnestly prayed and asked that we would. I’m convinced that in that huge country, we were led to that house, where someone was making these out of wood and was willing to just give one away.
Now, wouldn’t it be cool if I had some awesome conclusion about how we went on to teach that man, and how he became a great Church leader? Well, that didn’t happen. :) He had no interest in the Church or our message, and I never saw him again, but I used his homemade, wooden ab-wheel every day until it broke a month before I came home from Brazil.
I’m convinced that Heavenly Father knows us personally and cares about the details of our lives – even the insignificant things that matter more to us than they should.
