Ahh, 2020, what do I even say? Such a tsunami of interruption and worldwide discomfort. A pandemic. An American President who got more exasperating with every passing day and still does.
My year started as I watched the ball drop in Times Square while dancing with pure passion to “New York, New York.” Perhaps preparing me up for the year ahead?
I managed to get a few adventures in before Covid-19 arrived. The highlight was participating in Carnival in Trinidad, an incredible celebration and a full on cross cultural deep dive! Plus I went to Iowa for the Caucuses. 2020 has been such a crazy election year. I wanted Warren with her fresh clear ideas, but alas, America is way too sexist to let a woman be President. I’m happy to watch Kamala as VP and hope it helps ease the way to the top eventually. And I hope Biden can help calm the country and begin some much needed healing. I also got to spend a week in Maine and Massachusetts and got to see family and friends and experience the Pandemic through a different lens.
Mostly though, this year, faced with a pandemic that made my home neighborhood the “Epicenter of the Epicenter” in March and an economic crush that made my work supporting businesses at the NoHo Business Improvement District much more purposeful than before, I focused on NYC. With so much devastation everywhere from economic and human pain, I’ve just been trying to take every day at a time and process along the way. For months I have been taking long walks and trying to notice all the changes and sharing photos for all to see on Facebook. NY life is more complicated than can be covered with a photo or two in the news. I hope I’ve been able to show our resilient and community caring. To be honest, although I have no idea how bad the economic pain will turn out, I feel incredibly bullish on NYC’s future. We keep showing our strength and our creative spirit is seeping out everywhere.
I’m an extrovert and sitting at home alone doesn’t suit me! Luckily I’ve been going to the office on most days since May and have a wonderful co-worker to power through this with. My job is to keep an eye on NoHo and that means being out on the streets seeing what’s happening. I have really appreciated seeing how my networks have come together. Jackson Heights has an active, caring community that continues to work together to meet the challenges as they hit. The BID Community has been incredible. We are in constant contact working together to support NYC. We have weekly happy hours where we hammer through tough problems and also laugh uncontrollably. Zoom has become a wonderful life line. While I would much rather hang in person, I appreciate all the connections that continue. I also love all the new outdoor dining options and have enjoyed drinks al fresco, even as the temps drop.
I have taken my energy and focused on helping people. It seems like the only way to push out the dystopian feelings floating everywhere. I volunteer at a food pantry every week, where we serve about 1000 families. I've helped them with raising money, getting diapers donated and social media. I do little things like stocking food in a local community fridge, picking up garbage on our new Open Street, giving blood, because it takes a village! I also listen to the pain and stress of NoHo business owners and try to help in any way I can. There are no concrete ideas about what the future will bring, but I’m just trying to stay engaged and moving with the changes.
We still have a lot more trouble to come before this is over. I shudder about the uneven economic pain and how we are going to build up those who have suffered the most in our society. We are all going to have to work together to right our American ship on so many levels!
I personally am hoping to get my vaccine in time to be able to get my travel plans back on track and get to the Tokyo Olympics. A year later, my friend is still waiting to show me around. Fingers crossed. But until then, NYC I’m here to serve you and help guide you towards a bright future!
May 2021 bring a fresh new energy to propel us forward!
❤️
Cordelia
Also, for more pictures of New York facing the Pandemic this year, scroll through the blog or check out my Facebook albums.
