Beech Tree News Network

About this time for the past few years, I’ve done a Big Dummy Awards where I shined a light on some, shall we say questionable behavior in Holly-weird.  2020 has put the kibosh on a lot of things.  The Big Dummy Awards being one of those things. 

The year started out rough.  We probably should have known when Kobe Bryant and his daughter were killed in a February plane crash that something was up.  Little did we know, huh?

I started keeping a log of events in March.  I wrote down in my Apple notes that March 12 was day 1.  Here we are 9 months later.  You know that John Lennon song that starts “So this is Christmas/what have you done”? I’ll tell you what I’ve done: I’ve made sure that the Dish Hopper has been no fuller than 30%.  I even got that bad boy down to single digits back in April.  By my count, January 5, 2021 will mark 300 days in this, whatever it is you choose to call it.  I know things I’ve called it but they’re unprintable. 

For all the “2020 has been crap” comments (and it has), I’ve taken this time as an opportunity to learn some new things.  Zoom-which has come in incredibly handy with doing Sunday School and birthday parties, Tik Tok(though I’m not terribly active on it, Google Hangouts and Facebook Live(which is now moot for me since I dropped Facebook. 

Trivia Star, Crossword Jam and Word Crush are three games I have downloaded to my iPad this year that I absolutely love.  I have spoken about these in a previous column.  Just a few months later, I have to say that Trivia Star is my favorite.  Hey, it is a good replacement for anybody who used to go to trivia night. 

2020 has also brought us Karen.  Who is Karen? “Karen” has, in recent years, become a widespread meme referencing privilege.  I thought it was just an annoying person.  “Karen” is usually associated with the type who demands to “speak to the manager”. (www.BBC.com) In fact, some of you who cruise social media might remember this past Halloween when Kelsea Ballerini dressed up as a Karen.  If you haven’t seen it, give yourself a treat and go look it up.  She even posted a very convincing video on her Instagram page. 

As we wrap up 2020 and look ahead, however cautiously, to 2021, I’ve never been happier to see a year end.  Yes, we have learned things.  Yes, we are going to come out of this changed people-how could we not?  Hopefully, though, December 2021 will look different than December 2020.  Good different, hopefully.  Happy New Year!