Some Good Things About 2020

2020 was a milestone year for many of us. Now that we’re well along the way in 2021, we’re sipping on our all new 2020 Grapeful Rosé and thought it would be a good time to reflect on what made 2020 special in a good way. We can’t help but look for the silver linings in the last year. It turns out, it’s healthy to look at some things through rose colored glasses (or in our case, rosé colored!).

Reaching for the Stars.

In May 2020, SpaceX sent Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken into space, departing from the same launchpad as the Apollo missions decades ago. This was the first launch from American soil since the space shuttle program was retired in 2011. At the end of July, NASA launched Perseverance, the most advanced Mars Rover yet. The rover, nicknamed “Percy” carried Ingenuity, a small drone-like helicopter, safely to the surface of the Red Planet (they touched down in early 2021). 

Back Down to Earth.

Even if we were driven to it by boredom, many of us have emerged with new skills. Puzzles, board games, baking, and gardening became our mainstays in 2020. During seasons of sheltering in our homes, we all had a chance to revisit some old hobbies or learn new ones. Restaurants released their signature recipes so we could practice recreating the magic in our own homes. Some of us even practiced our sewing skills, making face masks when supply fell short.  

Making Furry Friends.

While the percentage of people staying home increased dramatically, the number of cats and dogs in shelters decreased. These precious pets found loving foster homes, or even their forever family. The number of strays decreased, and animal shelters were delighted to see fewer animals in need of homes. We can’t help but smile when we think of the excited wagging and peaceful purring of these heartwarming companions. 

Developments in health.

While the world grappled with the novel coronavirus, the Congo was also able to send home its last Ebola patient, a tremendous victory against the disease’s second deadliest outbreak. In August of 2020, Africa was declared free of Polio, nearly 25 years after the disease had been eradicated from the western hemisphere. Healthcare workers traveled through remote and hostile regions to administer vaccines to individuals in Nigeria, the last foothold of polio on the continent. 

Knowing what we need.

Through missing the things and people we couldn’t have, we learned what we love. We realized how much we love and need sports, and the way it brings us together. The events we missed, from graduation celebrations and birthday parties to concerts and weddings, showed us what was really important to us. In 2020, we realized how badly we need each other. 

Connection makes us human. It’s the perfect day to write a note or an email to a friend, have coffee or a zoom call, go wine tasting or out to dinner. There’s no day like today to celebrate togetherness.