2020 in three photos...

[wherdafux_d_cat]

In mid-April, two local flying clubs got together and did a flyover to say 'thank you' to the essential workers since my state had been on a hard lockdown since March. I grew up at airshows, from small EAA fly-ins to Oshkosh, and I still crane my neck and shield my eyes as I squint against the sun to find the source of that engine flying overhead. So of course I went for a walk that afternoon to see the flyover and maybe catch a photo or two. Can't speak for any essential workers but they did give me a much-needed happy that day.



About a month after the flyover, the stay home order was eased. Masks were still strongly advised but some took it more seriously than others. (I live in a very blue town in a very red state but it's also a college town so...) When I snuck this pic, I was trying to decide if that was her version of a mask, if she was trying to hide her identity, if she was having a really bad hair day, or what. (Feel free to add your own guesses!) By sheer chance, I saw them again on my next trip to the store a couple of weeks later, this time with her hood back. So make of this pic what you will! I chose it to include here because for me it captures an awful lot of COVID-specific wtfery in one quick snap.



I was and still am ridiculously proud to have this pin. I worked on the county's advance mail board from early October through mid November and loved every bit of it. Although most of my work was behind the scenes, I also spent a few days helping people who had come to the courthouse to cast advance ballots in person. I met a few people I'd cheerfully drop into the nearest creek but I also met plenty who kept me smiling long after they'd left. I took pictures for people who wanted one of them sitting on a voting-themed painted bench and I had my picture taken with first-time voters handing their ballot envelopes to me. And I made some fantastic friends. This was definitely a high point of a rather low year.

Comments

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Your commentary is interesting even without the pictures, but the first and third photo seem broken. :/ I'm only seeing the alt text for those.

[wherdafux_d_cat]

Found my whoops! Should work now.

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Oh! That first photo is really pretty! And your badge in the third one looks extremely official. :D As it should, I suppose -- good on you for volunteering! You have a point about the mundane WTFery of the second pic. :)

[wherdafux_d_cat]

Thank you!

[yourlibrarian]

Thanks for this post. You should indeed be proud of that pin, and that sounds like a great experience. So exciting to have first-time voters!

The flyover photo is great but what really makes it for me is the framing with those two birds on the right. I love the contrast.

What a beautifully clear day that was as well. I'm hoping the forecast for Tuesday stays true as we've had five days of gloom and I'd be happy for some sun ;)

[wherdafux_d_cat]

One of the first-time voters had just recently become a citizen as well (less than three months ago, if I remember correctly) and her husband was beaming from ear to ear as he took the picture -- you could see the smile through the mask. I also took one of the two of them together so they could both remember how proud they were of each other that day. My mean little heart was just full of happy!

I was so tickled about that flyover pic. They were cutting smoke off and on so I wasn't sure if I'd get lucky or not. Win!

I'm with you on the clear skies. We're in the usual early winter grey and hazy blue phase. But we've been having a couple of warm days every week or two, oddly enough, and I'm trying to remember to get myself outside to enjoy them!

[yourlibrarian]

Aw, what a great story!

And yes, while it's rather too chilly to really enjoy being out, I do want to spend more time in our chaise by the sunny window when the sun is there. Especially with our short days it's not around for that long anyway

[mxcatmoon]

These photos very well sum up 2020. Nice pin!

We had a fly-over here too, but not over where I live and I didn't feel like driving around, trying to find a place to park where I could see it, etc., so I just watched it on the news.

[wherdafux_d_cat]

Thank you! I get you about the driving vs watching it on the news -- I was lucky enough to be along the flight path. :)