Best of 2020 (Yes, there were some "bests"!)

 Hi all!

2020 is drawing to a close (thank goodness!), and I don't know about you, but I need to spend some time dwelling on what was great this year.

This year was a struggle in so many ways (see previous post + 2020 in general), but some exciting things happened for me.  I started a new job in IT (I know, I know--surprise!), my son started Kindergarten (albeit virtually), and I've started working on some new writing projects.  I was also able to spend more time watching, listening, and reading, so I have a heft list of "bests" for you this year!

Books of 2020

I set a goal to read 55 books this year, and I have exceeded it with a couple of weeks to go.  Here are the books I rated five stars on Goodreads:

The Travelling Cat Chronicles, Hiro Arikawa

Once, Alice Walker

Sold, Patricia McCormick

Red at the Bone, Jacqueline Woodson

Red, White, and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston

Untamed, Glennon Doyle (My #1 Book of the Year!)

The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran

The Boy in the FIeld, Margot Livesey

Men We Reaped, Jesmyn Ward

Intimations, Zadie Smith

The Archer, Paulo Coelho (My So-Close Runner Up!)

Navigate Your Stars, Jesmyn Ward

Movies and Television

The Last Dance: Wow.  I love a good sports documentary, but even if you don't think they're for you, this is a must-watch.  Not only did it take me back in time, but the discussion of character and the politics of the game are on point (see what I did there?).

The Crown: Can I tell you how happy I am that they had filmed before COVID?  I absolutely love this show.  The casting and acting are spot on, and the storylines compelling and complex.  It's also made me realize how incredibly lucky I am not to be a royal.

Discovery:  So here's the thing, my husband loves Star Trek.  Like, loves it.  We went to the Star Trek convention in Vegas years ago--and that's a story I definitely need to tell here on the blog.  Anyway, I was raised with Trek in the background (I was convinced to go see Star Trek VI in theatres by my family telling me Christian Slater was in it--yeah, for five seconds!).  I've seen every Trek series (Next Generation is obviously my favorite, but Deep Space Nine is a close second.  We pretend Enterprise never happened).  But I digress.  Discovery, while it has its faults, is a ship I'd want to be on.  I want to be Tilly's best friend and have a healthy fear of Michael.  

Superstore: We were looking for something to watch after binging the next two selections, and man, did this fill the void.  SO funny, yes.  But I truly love these characters, and I want them to be happy--the sign of a great show.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: When we finished Schitt's Creek (wait for it), we were lost.  What could follow my new favorite television series of all time?!  The answer--Maisel.  What I love about this show isn't simply the aesthetics (though for real, the clothes are just AHHHHHH!), it's the characters themselves.  This show is so--well--written.  I found myself eventually adoring characters I wanted to punch in the face several episodes before.  And I love Midge and her filthy mouth.  Take me on tour, Susie!

Schitt's Creek: I'm not even certain I can adequately explain my love and admiration for this show.  My family binged the entire series in record time and even found a way to watch the final season before it came on Netflix (not illegally--I'm not that girl!).  If you've started this show and given up after a few episodes, go back!  Once we hit season three, my heart forever belonged to Dan Levy.  What I most love about this show is the character development.  For one thing it's believable.  For another, it's beautiful.  The show perfectly balances humor and raw emotion.  The natural acceptance of all kinds of love is refreshing and lovely to watch.  At its core, this show is about love.  My god, we need that right now.

RuPaul's Drag Race: I had a student give a presentation on this show, and while I was watching, I was wondering how I'd never seen it.  When we all went home last spring, my family started with Season One and watched all the way through.  This show has so much heart, and so much glitter.  It just makes you feel good.  It's happiness.  Now sissy that walk!

The Prom: How I loved this film!  I loved the music.  I loved the songs.  I loved the writing.  I loved the plot.  I loved the casting.  I loved the acting.  I loved the heart.  I loved it.

Home Alone: Because it never gets old.

The Shows Must Go On: Thank you, ALW.  You saved the summer.

I haven't watched many films this year (yes, I will be watching Ma Rainey's Black Bottom super soon), but I plan to spend much of my holiday break making up for it.

Music

No concerts this year, but here are some songs that got me through 2020.  As usual, I'm late to the party with some of them:

"Blinding Lights", The Weeknd

"Positions", "Into You", "Dangerous Woman", "Love Me Harder", Ariana Grande

"Can't Keep My Hands to Myself", "Lose You to Love Me", "The Heart Wants What it Wants", Selena Gomez

"Don't Let Go", En Vogue (takes me back!)

"Caution", The Killers

"March, March", The Chicks

"The Last Great American Dynasty", Taylor Swift

"Break My Heart", Dua Lipa

"August", Taylor Swift

"Read U, Wrote U", Drag Race

"Your Makeup is Terrible", Alaska

"Sissy That Walk", RuPaul

"A Little Bit Alexis", Schitt's Creek

Looking Ahead: I'm excited to announce that I'm launching courses on Udemy in the new year.  I'm starting with AP Language and Literature crash courses, but then I'll be offering courses in various subjects related to writing and literature, as well as college admissions prep.  I'm also working on two non-fiction books, so stay tuned...there's a lot coming in 2021!  I hope you have a beautiful holiday season and cheers with me as we welcome a new year and say "Get outta here!" to 2020!

Where I've Been

 Hey friends,

Before I dive into my list of the best of 2020, I want to take a minute to say thank you.  Thanks for sticking with me through 2020.

When the pandemic began, and we all went home, I thought my introverted nature would not only be fine with the isolation, but thrive in it.  And for a while, I did.  I started "Time for Tea", which reminded me how much I love teaching and analyzing literature.  I was working from home, so much of the social anxiety I feel every day when I walk into work was gone-poof!  And I started reading--a lot.  I was keeping in touch with friends, having socially distanced driveway chats, and going hiking on the weekends with my family.

But sometime in the summer, something shifted.  I was exhausted.  I found myself sitting in Zoom meetings from the comfort of my bed (with a virtual background hiding my room) because I would fall asleep during my lunch break immediately after tapping "Leave Meeting".  I was always sleepy, and I had no energy.  In the spring, I was doing cardio dance classes online, taking time for daily yoga, and then, once we got our dog, walking her three times a day, sometimes jogging beside her.  Now I couldn't bring myself to get through an entire yoga flow series.

Then I started getting shortness of breath and chest pains.  If you're a reader of my blog, you know that I have sad lungs and have had pneumonia twice, so I freaked out.  I was convinced I had COVID.  I got a test, and it was negative.  

At this point, I was feeling depressed and anxious.  I was incredibly down, more than I have been in years.  I started shutting down.  I stopped Time for Tea abruptly, because it was giving me such anxiety to be responsible to others; I started avoiding friends' calls and texts, because I couldn't bring myself to talk to anyone.  I have been on antidepressants and antianxiety meds off and on since college, so I messaged my doctor to raise my dose until I could work through this.  I called my counselor and started working with her again.  But I wasn't feeling any better, physically or emotionally. 

So I called my doctor again.

On our virtual call, she looked me in the eyes and said, "You just had a hemoglobin test at the OBGYN a few weeks ago--did they not tell you that you're incredibly anemic?"

Anemic.  Why no--no one had mentioned that.  The tech who pricked my finger asked if my hemoglobin was always this low, and I told her that they always had to prick my finger twice when I donated blood, so it was often borderline.  She raised an eyebrow.  The doctor didn't mention it in our appointment.

My doctor said, "Megan, it looks like your iron levels have been going steadily down for three years."

Turns out, I was exhibiting many, many symptoms of anemia--including emotional symptoms.

I've been on iron pills for months, and I'm feeling so much better.  I did take it upon myself to decide I needed to eat more iron, so I stuffed myself with iron-fortified cereals and insisted I get a filet take out from a nearby steakhouse more often than I care to admit.  For the record--this is absolutely NOT the way to go about this.  You end up with more than the COVID 15 and your doctor reprimands you at your follow-up appointment. You've been warned.

Anyway, thank you.  Thank you for sticking through ti with me when I completely pulled back from everything.  You guys are awesome.  I am so in awe at the fortune of being able to share words with others.

Also, if you're someone who deals with anxiety and/or depression, I got you.  Let's make 2021 a healthy year.  And please, wear a mask for my sad lungs.