“Well, that’s weird!” Bill said of the funny coincidence.
“No, that’s just 2020!” Hazel replied.
And for about a month-and-a-half, Bill, Hazel and all of us can use that punchline as we go into 2021. I think we’re all hopeful for a better, brighter year without COVID-19 … eventually.
For now, the 2020 jokes will keep coming, and I’ll see the silver linings, such as zingers like these everyday from my family:
Scene: at the breakfast table …
Me: You are one messy kid.
5-year-old: You are one clean adult.
In recent weeks, my boys — a kindergartner and third-grader — returned to school two days a week on the hybrid schedule. They learn remotely three days of the week from home.
Their adaptability is quite inspiring. Learn by computer? No problem. Wear a mask all day? Sure. Wash your hands and sanitize often? Pros!
Whatever happens in the near future with schools and COVID, I’m confident in my kids’ and their teachers’ resilience.
Being back in school has brought on a new sense of energy. For me, it brings back that adage: “Appreciate it while you can.”
Seeing my family as much as I have in recent months has been a blessing.
Yes, there are the continued trips around the neighborhood on foot and bicycle, but I’ve seen and heard them read, write, learn division, share about historical moments and figures, and so much more.
I’m definitely appreciating this time despite the uncertainty, sadness and weirdness all around us.
Reverse Halloween
Now, I know I had nice neighbors, but Halloween reaffirmed it.
With being the only kids on the block, we typically knock on our neighbors’ doors every Oct. 31. But with the pandemic on, many of our neighbors either opted out of the holiday or asked us our plans.
We didn’t have any.
In a 2020-like turn of events, however, our neighbors turned it into Reverse Halloween — where your neighbors knock on your door and bring your kids candy.
In my day, we’d always remember the houses with full-size candy bars. Never could have my Ninja Turtle costumed-noggin ever imagined Reverse Halloween.
The boys received full-size candy bars, candy from Japan, homemade cookies and even Transformers toys.
As I told our neighbors, and I’d like to reiterate: They have hearts of gold!
Many people in Sequim follow this credence all the time, in so many facets. As a parent, I appreciate any kindness an adult shares with a child. It’s an odd time, but little things such as candy bars and smiles, even under masks, can make a difference.
Belated weirdness
Next year marks 12 years in Sequim, and I love covering Halloween. Sequimites make and wear some awesome costumes, and my wife pointed out possibly my favorite so far: “Weird Al” Yankovic.
Sara Brabant, a server at Oak Table Cafe, dressed on Halloween as the parody music master, and Nash family favorite musician.
While it’s nearly Thanksgiving, I couldn’t pass up the chance to share her fun costume.
Sara’s response on why she chose “Weird Al,” she said, “My hair was just right.”
During a busy lunch rush, she took a minute to tell us she’s liked “Weird Al” since she was 9, and among her favorite songs of his is a parody of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” called “Amish Paradise.”
My 5-year-old, tagging along with dad, reminisced with Sara about his favorite song, “Jurassic Park.”
Like my neighbors, I appreciate my Sequim neighbor Sara and so many others putting themselves out there to make people smile and feel good during such weird times.
Weird bits of advice
• Many years ago I forgot to come up with a costume for school, and came up with the best and laziest Halloween idea ever: Wear your clothes from the day before and say you are YOU from yesterday. To further the setup, say you time-traveled to eat your coworkers’ sandwich in the fridge to save the world. Great, right?!
• 5-year-old: If the coronavirus gets bad, you just have to stay 11 feet away.
• As Christmas promotion gets earlier and earlier, just follow my boys’ method. Make wish lists in October and then say, “Hey, it’s 2020!”
Reach reporter Matthew Nash at mnash@sequim gazette.com.
