Just Us – A 2020 Memo

This year, the infamous 2020, will go down in history as the year we endured COVID-19, a global pandemic. In the past nine months, all our lives have been altered in some way and those alterations will remain in place for months to come.

So many people have lost loved ones either from the virus or unintended consequences of it. Jobs have been lost due to shutdowns and businesses, unable to withstand those shutdowns, have been closed for good. Frontline workers have endured long shifts and witnessed sights never before seen.

Fortunately for me, I got to juggle being a full-time employee working from home, a full-time teacher’s assistant helping my son with home schooling, a short order cook ensuring everyone eats, and a full-time housekeeper. Some days I feel unstoppable, but most days I feel like I’m dropping the ball all over the place. I remind myself often that this is temporary, and, if only to my family, I’m making a difference.

The year 2020 has made time feel distorted, occasionally going by like a flash, but mostly seeming extraordinarily long. The plans we normally make and look forward to in a year were nonexistent. Extravagant milestone celebrations, school events, holiday gatherings, concerts, sporting events, and vacations were replaced with virtual gatherings, drive by celebrations, backyard staycations, and “just us” happenings.

 “Just us” happenings said another way:

• Just my husband and I for dinner, so I don’t need to cook
• Just one girlfriend coming to chat, so I don’t need to shop
• Just the kids for the holiday, so I don’t need to clean
• Just the neighbors are outside, so I don’t need to shower

Said even another way:

• “Just us” doesn’t matter as much as others
• “Just us” isn’t worth the extra effort
• “Just us” isn’t worth my time to impress

While it’s true that we shouldn’t need to impress the people we love, they do matter and are worth the extra effort. “Just us” is worthy of putting our best foot forward. “Just us” is THE special occasion. “Just us” is what matters most and makes life worth living, meaningful, and fun.

“Just us” is enough…Just ask someone who doesn’t have their “just us” anymore.

For many, this pandemic has taken the desire to wash, dress, clean, and impress away. We’ve cried more, we’ve been more frustrated, we’ve missed the things we sacrificed, and we stayed home with “just us” much more than we were used to.

If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s to embrace “just us”. “Just us” is special and this is a special time. It won’t be “just us” forever and when we’re back to the hustle and bustle of life outside of this pandemic, “just us” may be the one thing we miss the most.

Tell me this: Who is “just us” for you?