The Year of COVID-19 in review: Lots of accomplishments, lots of procrastination

Many of us began to quarantine a year ago with dread, unsure of how long we would have to stay home to avoid the pandemic scourge.

But something surprising happened.

We learned to use Zoom and came to like it. We studied foreign languages and researched family trees. We converted old VHS tapes, learned to bake and had no excuse not to exercise.

With the vaccines’ arrival, the future is looking bright.

This week we asked our Sun-Sentinel COVID-19 Reader Panel how they view the year that has passed. Though some learned new skills and pivoted their businesses to accommodate the new economy, it hasn’t been easy. Many felt depressed, missed their children and longed to hug a friend. They are thinking back on what they might have done differently.

“There are dearest friends that have passed away, and that leaves me with lots of sorrow,” said Harriet Kutner, 86, of Boynton Beach. “But I did learn that I am a survivor, and have developed many new skills being at home, especially cooking, which I love.”

This rekindling of old passions or the discovery of new ones kept many motivated to wake up each day during the difficult months when COVID was peaking and human contact was kept to a minimum.

“I entered quarantine with horror and fear: Was this the way I wanted to spend what would probably be one of the last years of my life, locked inside away from loved ones without my usual round of interactions and entertainment?” said Judith Klau, 85, of Delray Beach, a retired teacher from Boston.

“Guess what (and thank you ZOOM), I found a rich life that was different from anything I could have imagined. I started to study a new language (Yiddish), I joined interest groups and surprised myself by figuring out that the existential loneliness I had experienced even before COVID was manageable — I’d never even tried before. Blessed that I suffered no personal losses, I feel the pandemic was an opportunity for me to grow. I’ll be glad when it’s over, but I appreciate having had the experience.”

Shari Glixman, chief executive officer of Central East Warehouse, a hospitality supply business in Hollywood, also used the pandemic as an opportunity. She expanded her stock to include disinfectants, coveralls, wipes, hand sanitizer and hand-held sprayers.

“When I saw business dwindling down to almost nothing, I received a call from a customer asking if we carried an item that was specifically related to COVID safety,” she said. “Even though it is slightly out of our basic product line, I answered yes. I was able to bring my staff back, and the safety products kept the flow of business going. I helped my employees’ mindset in general. It forced us all to think out of the box and caused a total pivot of our business. We intend to continue to keep these products in stock, adding a whole new avenue to the business. I was forced to jump out of my comfort zone and think in a totally different way.”

Here’s how other readers dealt with this pandemic year.

Phil San Filippo, Boca Raton: “2020 was to my first full year of retirement and my wife and I planned to do extensive traveling. We were scheduled for a cruise through parts of China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan that was to start on March 14, just as the lockdown began. Last year’s summer plans included trips to New York City, Canada, Italy and Estonia. Of course, all of these plans were canceled.

We were also blessed with our first grandchild in October. We had the pleasure of seeing her once, but we long to be part of her life as she continues to develop. Although video chats and pictures have helped us see our granddaughter grow, we’re anxious to spend more time with her.

On the positive side, my wife and I are in good health. I began a project of writing a book for my children and their kids about my life and family. I want them to know as much about their family as they possibly can. This Christmas, my sons gave me a gadget that converts old VHS tapes to digital format. I am currently in the process of converting these old tapes that I recorded as far back as the early ’80s. My goal is to give each son an external hard drive with many of our family memories.”

Wayne Morris, Fort Lauderdale: “I learned mental health issues can be just a thought away; depression, anxiety, fear can occupy and consume your mental process simply by a TV segment, conversation, pandemic news. You cannot escape your thoughts and can only try to manage your reaction.”

Peri Boyarsky, Davie: “This past year was kind of an eye-opener. No regrets. I missed going out with friends and travel, but as far as anything else, I’m fine. I am perfectly happy being by myself. I also have my cats, who are great company when I’m feeling lonely. When my office closed for a month is when I realized that I would be very happy to retire. I did so on my terms at the beginning of the year. All in all, a lot of people had it a lot worse than me.”

Alan Wolfson, Delray Beach: “I have no regrets concerning my activities this past year as my wife and I did all within our power to stay safe. It’s been daunting to say the least and I don’t think we could have done anything differently. We racked our brains trying to think of different ways to visit our children and grandchildren but in the end, felt it was too risky.

My wife and I learned to respect each other’s personal space while spending much time indoors together and letting the ‘little’ things slide.

I did learn to manage my time each day. Reading the paper, exercising, doing the New York Times crossword, riding my bike, umpiring softball, and prepping some dinner were stretched out to last the entire day.”

Joycelyn Patrick, Boynton Beach: “I’m a news fanatic. I adopted Dr. Anthony Fauci as the (my) authority on everything COVID-19. As 2020 moved along and I watched the death toll rise, I became very concerned for my fellow man. Though I had always considered myself an empathetic person, I soon found myself mourning the passing of hundreds of victims whom I’d never met. Then, as more time passed, we started to lose well-known community icons and mentors, whom I (and others) revered growing up. These losses affected a large majority of our small city. I also became very concerned with my two grandsons and how they would navigate through their various stages of college studies. Thank goodness all ended well for them. I haven’t learned any new skills but I have rediscovered my love for cooking and trying new recipes. I’ve gained a few ‘COVID pounds’ but the intimate family gatherings, enjoying food and fellowship are worth it. Lastly, as I reflect on the past year, my faith overshadowed fear every step of the way!”

Matthew Plager, Boca Raton: “I would have increased my outdoor activity level, especially for morning walks and sun. I would have upgraded my home WiFi network sooner. I am satisfied with my use of outdoor dining. I am also glad that I did not let fear prevent me from seeking dental and medical care. I miss travel and intend to catch up now that I have the vaccine as opportunities open up.”

Michael Herzlich, Delray Beach: “I would pretty much do what I did this past year if I had a redo, as unpleasant as it was. I stayed home and developed a routine to keep my sanity: a morning walk, email, lunch, make cinnamon ginger tea and sit outdoors in back and listen to some music before dinner. Fill in the between times on the computer. Then do it all over again the next day. Shopping was structured, Costco every three weeks, Whole Foods every three weeks on an alternate week and Saturday morning weekly vegetable then Publix shopping. Fortunately I had a major genealogical research project that consumed my time for a good three months. I was more than happy when things opened in Phase One. Haircuts, doctor and dentist visits were looked forward to. I was really happy Florida was moving ahead. There was the occasional drive-by visit with my children and grandchildren. All in all, a confining, unpleasant experience, a lost year.”

Sallie Dreyer, Winter Springs: “When the lockdown began, I saw it as a great chance to do some things from home I’d been putting off and really wanted to do. I thought, I can enlist my sisters and we can support each other in learning a new language, either Italian or Spanish. Nope, didn’t do it. I planned to finally put my daughter’s baby book together (she’s 25) ... still sitting on my desk. Planned to write to at least one elderly person a week who might feel isolated — did a little better on that than Spanish and the baby book, but not up to my original expectation. So as I look back, I’m focused on giving myself some grace. I did follow the guidance about how to manage my behavior during the pandemic; I didn’t put myself or my family at risk. I’ve cooked more and focused on super healthy meals. I joined the local CSA and have fresh beautiful organic vegetables every week and my husband and I have managed to stay married through this crazy year. Most important, my daughter delivered our first grandchild, and we’ve stayed in a bubble with them so we’ve been able to get to know the little guy, unlike so many grandparents this year. And we are forever grateful for that.”