THE MOMENT I REALIZED THAT COVID-19 IS REALLY A “THING”
Well, this is certainly dragging on longer than I had expected.
I’m talking about the Covid-19 pandemic that effectively shut my business down on March 12, 2020. That was the last day I “almost” got to work in front of a live, mask-free audience. I was at the Westin Hotel in Calgary, AB to conduct a fundraising auction for Renfrew Educational Services when about an hour before doors were set to open to some formally-attired 450 guests, the world came to a screeching halt. The government, at around 3:30 pm, imposed ‘immediate’ restrictions on public gatherings.
Riding back to Edmonton on the 6:30 pm Red Arrow bus, I, like so many people, thought the shutdown would be short-lived. And I remember thinking how nice it was going to be to have a little break, maybe a month or two. Up to that point, I’d been working hard and constantly traveling.
As time wore on it became evident that 2020 was going to be a write-off, at least as far as my business was concerned. Ever the optimist, I cheerfully reframed the whole mess as my “sabbatical year,” something I had always secretly wished for anyway.
Personally, 2020 was probably the best year of my life. Barb and I were married on August 1st in the new home we built last year, and it has been wonderful having this time to settle into our new life together.
As for business, not much is going to happen until things loosen up and restrictions on public gatherings are lifted. Until then, I’m going to enjoy my wife, our life, and very little, if any, strife.
Take care and stay safe!