If I repeat some stuff in today’s blog, I do apologize. It’s been that kind of year.
Just like 2019, let’s break down the year 2020. Bet you didn’t think we’d be dealing with a pandemic when the year started, did you?
Early 2020– It started out normal. I developed a love for Gilmore Girls. I wanted to grow my work friendships from the previous year with my Squad. I was blogging every day. During the middle of the month, I had a ugly run in with a total stranger over a comment I made on a Pro-Trump page. She then started to attack my blog and my selfies. I got a vote of confidence from my District 13 Toastmasters family and from my cousin.
I started to realize that I was on a different path than my work family. They had their interests and I had mine. Toastmasters contest season heated up around the middle of February. Still a pretty normal start to the year if I do say so myself. I did a model speech for Area 22 and was a contestant in the Area 24 Speech contest. The best weekend was leap day weekend. It started out bad when I got ghosted by my friends at White Rabbit but I began to introduce myself to other people. The Area 21 contest was very well attended and I made some new friends from Elk County Toastmasters. I even started to make more friends at church.
I also began to follow local business around Westmoreland County. This would have a bigger impact on my life later on in 2020 and showed my love for my community and small businesses. The Trendy Bunny Studio opened up on March 6. I followed the shop and Masterspieces on Instagram and really enjoyed the content.
Then, the pandemic hit.
Spring 2020–With local businesses and malls shut down, there was nothing to do. Most people stayed at home and started eating junk food, gaining their “quarantine 15”. I was able to attend virtual Toastmasters meetings, go out to Ligonier, and walk around Twin Lakes. Parking was free as all the stores were closed.
Eventually I began to make the transition back to work. Masks would be required while working, and managers did their best to social distance the crew. Overall, it wasn’t too difficult to jump back in. The weather in May was crazy. From snow flurries on Mother’s Day to hot and humid just after Memorial Day. We had virtual club officer training on June 20. Over 200 toastmasters attended.
With the pandemic wreaking havoc everywhere, we decided to stay close to home for vacation. Instead of going to Cape May as in past years, we went to Erie instead. We went to Waldameer Park, Presque Isle, and I even went to the Dobbins Landing and saw all of downtown. It was a quick and easy vacation that concluded with a stop at the Grove City outlets. Just like last summer, it wasn’t very eventful. But excitement was in the air for the fall. Remember Masterspieces, which at the time was part of Trendy? Courtney, the owner, was getting ready to open up her own store over Labor Day weekend. One summer day in Latrobe, as I was appreciating the beauty of the fountain and the Fred Rogers statue, I looked for the location of the new shop. I knew it was going to be a great location. Next to Greensburg and Ligonier, Latrobe has became my favorite local town.
I attended my first night market in late August. I met Wolf and Whisk Baked Goods owner Kelsey Blahovec and bought some cookies (included was a GBG sticker from Masterspieces). I was excited about the grand opening. She was going to have a popup one of the nights of the grand opening. This night was the start of many local business experiences for me in 2020.
That night, I also made the decision to let go of my past. It was 20 years since I started at Hiram G. Andrews center. It could have been so easy to just relive those good old days but in the end it was best to just let the past go. Labor Day Saturday I decided to bid my past farewell.
Just as late 2019 was about improving my style, late 2020 would be about growing friendships. I began my Labor Day holiday by visiting Masterspieces for their grand opening celebration. The next day I made my first ever visit to the Trendy Bunny Studio. I also stopped at RSVP before making my way up to Johnstown for my aunt’s birthday. I began to build great relationships in the community. I also grew my network on Instagram by following the bloggers who attended the event at Trendy on September 20. One of those people has encouraged me to find the joy in my everyday life.
At the Fall Symposium, I was recognized for my DTM and as an added bonus, I also won The Spirit of Toastmasters award. I was quite surprised when my name was called. In December at our Club Officer training event, we held a panel discussion about the Spirit of Toastmasters and answered questions pertaining to membership, education, and other club experiences.
This might be the third time I’ve done this blog so it might be a bit redundant. But I can say with enthusiasm that I’ve gotten 2020 out of my system. It’s time to do 2021 and look ahead to all that this exciting year has to offer.
So long and farewell to 2020.
Stylish 🍒 