What a strange year it was to live through. I really enjoyed my early 30's and I had gone into 34 thinking it was going to more of the same. Same place of work, same places I went to on the days I had off, and pretty much the only difference in my life would be what movies where coming out when, or what community and regional theater shows I'd watch when I got the chance. (Last show I saw was a Delaware Children's Theater production of Newsies in January 2020. Quite fun.) There were things I always liked doing throughout the year- barhopping on Halloween, battling people at the mall on Black Friday, and my biggie- going out on New Year's and just barhopping.  I tried doing the Halloween thing, but all the Covid19 restrictions were depressing. Didn't bother with Black Friday, and I stayed at home to watch the Ball Drop. The last time I was home on New Year's was in 2004-going-into-2005.

Everything got upended, and I've basically spent a year of my life stuck in my room listening to music and watching YouTube videos. It hasn't been the tragic-filled year that it has been for a lot of people, and I'm covered in ways that a lot of people teetering on the edge of the abyss are not. I can't complain as much- I've lived through worse and got out through the other end.

I'm not really sure what's next for me. When I was 25, that used to terrify me. At 35, I'm okay with just taking things as they come. Maybe I should be more proactive and try to figure out where I go now, but if there's anything this year taught me, it's that life changes on a dime like that.

I just really hope there's some semblance of normal this year. We all need it.