THIS INDELIBLE YEAR I WAS WITNESS TO BIRTH, LIFE AND DEATH
2020 will always be known as the year a brutal pandemic changed the world. But it didn’t impact everyone the same way. What will you remember most about 2020? We asked The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Community Voices Project contributors. Earlier pieces ran Christmas Day and this week. Four more appear below and more will run later this week.
“Stop The World — I Want To Get Off.”
That’s the title of the great Broadway show by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. It’s a story that examines the birth, life and death of a clownish Littlechap. Born in a circuslike atmosphere, this is the futility of reality. I feel close to the character of Littlechap because I have seen 2020 in a circus-like atmosphere. Birth, life and death are themes of the crazy, wonderful, deadly and absurd acts in this circus we call life in 2020.
Birth
I remember the beginning of 2020 with great expectations of a 35-year journey to get a theater space for our theater company, Teatro Máscara Mágica. It was a brave move, like walking a tightrope for 35 years and finally getting to the other end, and then falling from the rope into the net with the announcement of the birth of COVID-19 and all the consequences that were going to come.
All children when they are born need love, patience, nourishment, shelter and protection. The whole world was giving birth to this new child and the surrogate parents were the governors, mayors and the legislative bodies of each state of the union, and included essential workers who continue to fight their own fears and potentially sacrifice their lives for others to survive. What’s really disappointing to a child are parents who put money, power and control over doing the right thing. I remember the disappointment in friends who won’t listen to the truth and are constantly risking the health of others in public places. They become the bullies in school.
Life
Life looked strange. There was no noise pollution. I heard birds, but there was a weird silence. No traffic. No pollution. And the Earth took a breath for once to replenish itself. I remember the consequences that were enormous for restaurants, theaters, commercial venues, schools and public places that were shut down. I remember playgrounds with no children playing, silent churches, movie theaters with no popcorn. The percentage game was on. I remember the proliferation of mass media and internet options like Zoom. I once was a teacher in front of students who were vibrant and asked questions. I remember wrestling, my sport for more than 50 years, was no longer active. I remember having to be accustomed to wearing a mask, and a run on toilet paper and hand soap. I remember knowing who your true friends are. Politics makes strange bedfellows. I remember some people preaching the words of patriotism and religious dogma while others live them.
Virchis
Death
Death was present every day of 2020. In January, Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash and in the same newspaper was a story of a virus that started in China that was to invade the world. Cancer and COVID-19 held hands together and killed a lot of great people. I remember my lifelong friends and colleagues that have passed, Manuel Cavada, Dan Feraldo, Tara Johnson Bach, Edward Hollingsworth, Jack White, Jack Sprint. There are too many beautiful people who are gone. Remembering is quite a gift that we have. It is the album of our lives.
Memories good, bad or ugly are still memories that live in our minds and will be here for eternity in the cloud. As a country we are pretty vain. We need to work on ourselves. Loyalty, honesty, truth and family will never go out of style. Remember those who have gone and those who are ill and pray with them to bring in the new year with lessons learned. I hope you remember this article.
What’s really disappointing to a child are parents who put money, power and control over doing the right thing.