The year 2020. The good, the bad, and the very sad. It’s been a year. One filled with loss — family, career, home, colleagues, and friends. But also one filled with hope, accomplishments, and a moment in time to reflect and re-evaluate what’s most important.
My year started nice, with a good amount of travel to Paris, Miami, and a staycation in Greenport — I’m so grateful for those experiences.
Then March. For many, March came in like a dumpster fire. My March started with a literal dumpster fire. Smoke from fiery New York City dumpster billowed into our apartment at 5 AM on a Monday morning (deadline day). Everyone was safe, but the smoke was too much to stay. We grabbed the recent Costco delivery of bulk toilet paper, ginger immunity shots, and the contents of my home office, and jumped in the car and headed to our house in Hampton Bays. I didn’t return to NYC until August, only to move out of our beloved apartment in the best city there is.
Being an East End journalist was an experience this year. Covering the COVID crisis has been life-changing. And I felt great responsibility reporting on local Black Lives Matter demonstrations and seeing such an important time in history.
In the past year I’ve gone from Executive Editor of The Independent Newspaper to Editor at Large of Dan’s Papers, and now — after launching a media company in just a month — the Co-Publisher and Editor of James Lane Post. (I’ve had to unlearn and relearn the Oxford comma more times than I can count!) The support we have received for JLP is overwhelming and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.
Indy was a huge part of my life since my father co-founded the paper in 1993. I worked there for 14 years, alongside a family of such talented, wonderful people. In July, Rick Murphy passed away, and just two days ago, Ben Sneed. I will miss them both dearly.
In August, The Independent won almost every major NYPA award, something I will always be proud of — to win Newspaper of the Year in New York State was such an accomplishment. I’ll forever be grateful for the experience and what The Independent has afforded me in my life.
In late August, my father-in-law passed away — a man larger than life, loved by so many and a terrible loss that will be felt for the rest of our lifetime. He was a wonderful father, husband, brother, and friend — a great storyteller and we had a shared love for abstract expressionism. We drove to Chicago to not risk flying, seeing parts of the county I’ve never seen before, somewhat therapeutic during a difficult time.
I’ve appreciated all of the happy 2020 moments I was able to share with my husband and my parents (all in the same little house), and the rest of our immediate family. The welcoming of new family members. The moments we were able to spend with friends — safely outdoors, social distancing. And everyone I’ve Zoomed and FaceTimed with. This year was about connection, even if it was while we were all separated.
I’m grateful for what I have right here — a roof over my head, good food on the table, and loving family and friends. And the dream of better days — days filled with travel and socializing with the people most important to us.
I think we’re all moving toward a more compassionate way or living, of doing business, of how we interact with our neighbor. At least that’s my hope.
I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.
The year 2020. I still think I made the most of it.
