2020 HINDSIGHT
BY RICHARD EYRE
has there ever been a year like 2020
when it began
we hoped for a year of clear vision
but
beware of what you wish for
for you may get it
in completely unexpected ways
clear vision came by way of adversity
the pandemic gave us 2020 clarity
on our fragility
covid showed us our interconnected
vulnerability
BLM pricked 2020 clarity
on our undiagnosed racism
earthquakes and hurricanes revealed
the pain (and anger) of mother earth
political division opened 2020 clarity
on america’s two separate worlds
and isolation and quarantine
exposed our darker, deeper selves.
piled on top of this macro malaise
was some micro medical murmuring
all together
it gave us 2020 clarity on both
the rich texture of beauty
and the rips of shortcomings
in the fabric
of our families and relationships.
sometimes
it feels like covid and 2020
have ripped out our gut
and with it our gratitude
protect against that
because thanks-giving
is the protector of joy
thanksgiving
even as we plunge into cold covid winter
brings hope—a view toward 2021
through the corrective lenses
of interdependent empathy
and humility
hope-visions of vaccines
and clues of civility
a prophet said it best at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlcILxGmVrI.
we #givethanks
for you
our friends and family
asking
that 2020 fog will bring inward sight
and that when it lifts in 2021
the world will be fresh and ever-changed
as we enter our fourth quarter
exciting
and consequential
ready
for the higher stakes and final score
Feature Image: We gathered, face-shielded and distanced, jumped together for one quick photo, and avoided even a single Covid case (zoom in to see faces.)
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POEM, READ MORE FROM RICHARD AND LINDA EYRE IN GRAND MAGAZINE HERE WWW.READGRAND.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: RICHARD AND LINDA EYRE
GRAND is pleased to welcome New York Times #1 Bestselling Authors Richard and Linda Eyre as regular columnists. The Eyres’ parenting and life-balance books have reached millions and been translated into a dozen languages. As fellow baby boomers, their passion and their writing focus has now shifted to the joy of grandparenting. Linda’s latest book is Grandmothering, 
and Richard’s is Being a Proactive Grandfather, each of which is reviewed in this issue.
