In a few short months, it will be three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we adjust to our new normal, the pandemic lingers, and people continue to be stricken with the virus. It is vital to remain vigilant and protect ourselves with hand washing and staying home when we are sick. Working or learning from home continues to be popular.
In the future, people will inevitably have PTSD symptoms, including anxiety about getting sick or being in public areas and crowds. I had COVID-19 in January and continue to experience these worries for my family.
I don’t know if masking, better hygiene, and less physical contact messed with people’s immunity, but the population seems sicker this year with colds and flu than in recent memory, especially children. This is the case in Saskatchewan anyway; either that or I am more attuned to noticing it than before the pandemic.
Cancer continues to affect people of all ages. It has touched my family and probably yours. I am frustrated that for my entire life money has been collected for cancer research, but still there is no cure.
Inflation was the most worrying topic worldwide, followed by poverty and social inequality. The financial toll of the pandemic continues to wreak havoc. As we all knew would happen, we are paying for the financial losses companies suffered over the last couple of years.
We continue to see shortages of certain items and medications. Empty shelves are not something we are accustomed to seeing in Canada. Grocery prices continued to rise throughout 2022. The Hubs had a good crop of lettuce in his garden in the summer, which I quickly got sick of eating. Now when I gaze longingly at a nine-dollar bag of lettuce at the store, I think back to that lettuce. Raspberries are another thing that triggers a memory for me; growing up on the farm, my parents had three massive rows of huge, delicious raspberries that we could not pick fast enough. Of course, as a kid, picking berries got old real fast, but now when I look at the price of a cup of raspberries, I want to cry. You don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone.
On the plus side, I am more conscious of the food I waste; thus, The Hubs has been subjected to his fair share of 2022 mystery soup. Don’t judge me, or there will be “no soup for you”; back in the day, leftovers were routinely added to the soup pot: bones to make broth, meat, vegetables, gravy, mashed potatoes, you name it.
The conflict in Ukraine with President Putin’s Russian forces began in February, and a grim winter campaign currently rages on. Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for his courage and leadership.
Sadly, crime rates continue to climb and acts of violent crime were perpetrated in large and small communities alike, such as on James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.
In 2022 we lost Queen Elizabeth II,
Barbara Walters, Olivia Newton-John, Meat Loaf, Bob McGrath, Kirstie Alley, and Jerry Lee Lewis, to mention a few.
Global warming continued its progression with rising sea levels and changes in seasons. The world was rocked by $29 billion in weather disasters such as: tornadoes, floods, heatwaves, drought, snowstorms, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and wildfires. Deaths and injuries decimated many communities.
In the United States, Joe Biden continued his presidency with Donald Trump nipping at his heels. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s popularity fluctuated widely across the country. Blockades and protests against vaccine mandates and restrictions by Canadian truckers known as the Freedom Convoy roared across the country to Ottawa. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was a train wreck, and Harry and Meghan remained in the limelight.
News in the entertainment world included: Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, illnesses affecting Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber, Christina Applegate, Bruce Willis and Celine Dion, the Kardashian saga, and the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial. These are a reminder that those with wealth and privilege struggle with relationships, mental and physical health issues, and substance abuse like anyone else might.
My music tastes included Harry Styles and Adele, but I also listen to old favourites like Queen, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, Credence Clearwater Revival and Garth Brooks.
To the delight of sports fans, the Olympic Winter Games, FIFA World Cup soccer, football’s Super Bowl and Grey Cup, NHL hockey and tennis at Wimbledon all returned to regular capacity and programming.
Movies like Top Gun Maverick and Elvis filled theatres and series such as Yellowstone, 1883, Virgin River, Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, Dead To Me and The Crown on streaming services had me binging. I listened to a lot of true crime podcasts as well.
Skinny and high-wasted jeans, camouflage prints, mirrored sunglasses, and tunic tops were out. The fashion world revived sequins, velvet, platform heals, ruffles, fringes, mesh, feathers, and crocheted clothing and accessories. Jumpsuits and baggy overalls were popular, as well as bright colours like hot pink and purple. I knew if I waited long enough, my wardrobe would make a comeback.
As we reflect on 2022, its challenges can push their way to the forefront of our thoughts. It wasn't all bad, though; if you look deeper into any adverse event, you will find positives. Rescuers, volunteers, gestures of kindness, or ordinary people stepping up to perform acts of bravery and heroism like:
- walking through a Saskatchewan blizzard (Saskatchewan Screamer) at 80 years old to rescue three stranded cars of people
- running into a burning building to save a child
- fundraising for families in need
- plunging into freezing water to pull someone to safety
- helping people involved in motor vehicle accidents
- snow angels clearing the way
- warming busses and stations for the homeless in subzero weather
- military vets volunteering to return to active duty to serve in foreign countries.
In Saskatchewan, our Riders fell short, but we got Moe bucks! Canada remains one of the best countries in the world in which to live.
On a personal level, we enjoyed camping, fishing, boating, time in our yard and barbecues on the deck. A get-together with my four siblings and their spouses in Alberta was long overdue. We had not all been physically together for four years, so that was a special time, and we had such a good visit.
We were blessed with a granddaughter in May, bringing our grandchild total to five; four girls and one boy. These little humans add so much to our lives; and there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t mention at least one of them. Oh, and we love their parents too!
Through my stories, I reached readers and listeners around the world, including in Canada, the UK, the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, Australia, Germany, Romania, France, Ukraine, Belize, Japan, Italy, Indonesia and others; this makes me so happy.
Thank you for the support and encouragement you have shown me by reading my blog, listening to the podcast version or shopping my small business; I genuinely appreciate it.
Happy New Year!
"The bad news is nothing last forever, The good news is nothing last forever." J. Cole
Links to my previous year-end posts:
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