2020 Hindsight: What we have gained

I have to admit, it's easy to get wrapped up in all that is being lost during this COVID quarantine.  We have lost time outside, time visiting our friends, I am missing my nephew's HS Graduation, heck, we're not sure what Alexa's Graduation will even look like, not to mention Prom, and the Senior Trip has been cancelled.  We lost the chance to see Anna's play more than the one Preview Night and the chance to see her sing in Children Song's 20th Anniversary Concert.  We have lost the ability to worship with our fellow church members.  And more.  BUT, on the 144th day of 2020, while we were using a borrowed power washer to clean things in our backyard that have needed cleaning for years (some of the stuff coming off the fence was GROSS (fitting for day #144)), I thought to myself, this is only happening because of the time we have sequestered at home.  And we are having more family meals together.  And we have seen communities come together to support each other like never before.  We are worshiping online, but that has meant that our members that have moved away from Philadelphia have been able to rejoin us, including some from the other side of the globe.  Yes, on 5/23/2020, my 2020 Hindsight is what we have gained from this pandemic time.  I am not happy that it is pervading and I hope that the release of rules does not cause the virus to surge back, but I am going to focus my thoughts on the things that we have been able to do, the time together that we have, the reduction of the pace of our lives (with fewer events), and the re-connection, online of course, with people we have not seen in a while, because we need to stay connected even as we are apart.  My hopes of course is for this to end and us to return to a more typical way of life, but I hope some of our gains are maintained.