Thank you, readers, for sharing your stories of this challenging year

The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board invited readers to share their stories of 2020, a year made challenging by the coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest and a contentious presidential election. The response has been overwhelming. Your letters and essays— full of hope and heartbreak— speak to what a unique year this has been. We will be publishing select contributions through the end of the year.

The purpose and joy I've found

I’ve been saying that if anyone told me last January that in two months our world would shut down, we’d bewearing masks and social distancing and told where to go, howmany people we can be around, etc., I would’ve laughed. I still sometimes can’t believe it.

I come froman Italian family. We hug, kiss, stay close. We don’t know how to social distance. That part has been extremely challenging, emotionally and mentally. I will never be OK with that.

I have learned to be good tomyself and take care ofmy mental health. God andmy faith are where my strength is found. I always start my early mornings with prayer. I take two brisk walks each day, adding up to an hour. I do a strength training routine inmy basement every other morning.

I have five adult children who have their own families, so it’s justmy husband and me. Our source of joy and fulfillment is them. We stay in touch and see them when they aren’t busy with their successful, productive lives. Andwe love that!

Thank God for faith, family and friends, because during theworst of days, that’s everything, and life is good, no matter what. They give life purpose and meaning and joy.

I have family members and friends who have had COVID-19, and thankfully all have recovered. A few ofmy friendships have naturally dissolved. You learn a lot about where people stand during a pandemic, civil unrest and other things going on in theworld; it’s healthy that some of those relationships end. Not all friendships should last.

I hope and pray for an end to this coronavirus madness in 2021. Iwant to see everyone unmasked, living free, without fear. I’d like to see more unity, kindness and love and less division. Iwant life to go back to normal, even though normal life was never perfect.

There’s beauty in it, even with its imperfections.

— Melody Vestuto, Elmhurst

The pain of not saying goodbye

This will definitely be a year I will never forget. My husband and I decided to go to NewZealand for our 50th wedding anniversary aswell as have a nice party. We did get to NewZealand but had to cut our trip short by a week due to COVID-19.

Wewere glad to be home safe and learned quickly howto Zoom with friends. My freezer was full, andwe happened to have disinfectant wipes and toilet paper. My husband had a rare blood disease, which kicked up its heels in April. I dropped him off at the emergency room but couldn’t go in. He ended up in and out of the hospital and in and out of the intensive care unit until he passed away in May. He was unable to beat the rampant clotting.

The worst was kissing him goodbye through a mask on a Friday and never seeing him again. The thought of him all alone on his last day just breaks my heart. I feel as if I could have been carefully masked and covered and allowed to be with him. I know there are many such stories, but this ismy story.

Iwas allowed to come to the intensive care unit after midnight, down dark halls, to give them permission to turn off the machines. My family and I wish we could have said goodbye.

— Leslie Johnson, Highland Park