2020 Retrospective

I am participating in an online photo workshop with Hessler Creative. The first assignment was to take four images " ... that represent how you felt and or what you learned during 2020." Here are the four images in chronological order; a narrative required because on their face a viewer would probably not be able to connect them in a series.

Note to mods: If after reviewing this post, you believe that I have crossed the line with the commentary, especially #3, I understand. Feel free to delete the entire post or just #3.

1 - The near panic that seemed to grip many folks, my family included (but "panic" is too strong a word) in the very early days of the pandemic as supplies of paper towels and toilet paper vanished from store shelves.




2 - A recurring dream I have had, very disruptive and causing me to awake, again in a near panic, is of my wife dying from COVID-19 in an intensive care unit and my not being allowed to be with her.




3 - (Note: if you do not wear a mask when in public places, I suggest you not read what follows). In my life (I am 74) I can only recall one other time where I felt sustained anger for several weeks. In 2020 for several weeks, every time I would hear "it's inconvenient" or "it's my right not to wear a mask" I would literally seize up with anger. What is "inconvenient" to me is dying in a ditch in Vietnam like my friend. And, as an American, you have that "right" because of folks who have died to give it to you who no longer have any rights. They bore the responsibility for such rights that you have and for which you are refusing to bear any responsibility - with rights come responsibilities.




4 - My anger was unhealthy and doing absolutely no good. The anger is not felt by the anti-mask folks. And, my hatred was in direct contrast with something I firmly believe in: "Hatred corrodes the container it is carried in." That sentence has appeared below my posts (see below) for years. I was being a hypocrite. I now believe that we all come to decisions like wearing a mask or not from diverse life experiences, values, stations in life, etc. and that I need to accept this with grace. I have.





Edited by Roger Rex - 13 January 2021 at 22:23

Thank you for making this set of images, and the commentary, and for sharing it with us.

Interesting set and well photographed. I disagree with #3 but like the image. Surely there are more poignant issues to invoke debilitating rage beyond a piece of fabric. I have looked on the mask thing as akin to condoms in an age of AIDS, you don't want to wear one, good luck with that.

Thanks for sharing, powerful stuff. I've felt that rage at anti-maskers from time to time. Half the citizenry here doesn't even seem to believe there's a pandemic. Trying to protect my parents, 83 and 74, has been scary at times.

Thanks all for the kind comments. Like so many other variables in life, how COVID-19 affects each individual is, well, individual.

The images and commentary hit home. Not only do they capture the times, they capture the apprehension that all of us feel. It is unfortunate that people avoid doing simple things to try to safeguard everyone - though we are all entitled to have our own beliefs and opinions, I do think that as human beings we also need to look at the needs of humanity as a whole. I know some people feel strongly about certain things, but I think that in times like this, a simple act of consideration from everyone can go a long way.

LAbernethy wrote: Interesting set and well photographed. I disagree with #3 but like the image. Surely there are more poignant issues to invoke debilitating rage beyond a piece of fabric. I have looked on the mask thing as akin to condoms in an age of AIDS, you don't want to wear one, good luck with that.

There is a very significant difference. Wearing a mask protects others you pass by casually from getting Covid from you.
Condoms only protect those who have very much more intimate contact.

Choosing not to wear a mask is choosing to put those around you at risk.