2020 WASNT A TOTAL WASTE BUT WE CAN DO BETTER

Here are a few things that you may have missed that were great in 2020!

• Dogs trained to protect wildlife have saved 45 rhinos from poachers in South Africa.
• People around the world rose up to protest police violence and racial injustice.
• Crayola unveiled 40 new inclusive skin-tone crayons.
• Finland moved to give new dads time off with their newborns, offering equal time as moms.
• Polio was officially eradicated on the African continent.
• Scotland became the first country to make period products free.
• The 2020 election saw the most voter participation in 120 years. The election led to historic wins for LGBTQ+ people and women of color.
• Hundreds of religious leaders called for a ban on conversion therapy.
• Bong Joon Ho made history as the first Korean to win the Best Director Oscar for Parasite.
• Thanks to stay-at-home orders, animal shelters are more empty than ever
• The COVID pandemic drove a record drop in global carbon emissions in 2020.

Locally, we saw major insurance companies lower auto rates due to lower accident numbers, with some offering rebates! Gas prices were dramatically lower than 2019. A ton of homes were sold for higher prices than last year with mortgage and refi rates at all time lows, saving us money and encouraging people to set down roots. Home remodeling projects were big for both the DIY and professional crowds, as you saw non stop big crowds at those big box stores all year. Electric car manufacturer RIVIAN expanding quickly in Normal, creating a lot of new local jobs and giving back generously to the community with donations and charity sponsorships.  Multiple people have shared with me their happiness over increased family time this year due to so many obligations and events being cancelled. Apparently we had been doing too much away from the ones we love the most, and staying home can be fun! Did you make bread/ cook more? Enjoying curbside pick up or delivery from restaurants you used to visit less but now patronize monthly? Sure, we all gained weight, but we did it in delicious style!

I’m grateful of course for surviving a pretty harsh case of COVID-19 in October. I was lucky to not have lung complications, but the thermometer showed me having a higher fever than I had ever had in my life, horrible headaches, and side effects like extreme hair loss and brain fog that took forever to subside. You don’t know fatigue until you have had CORONA VIRUS FATIGUE. The health department and the doctor who diagnosed me with the virus were awesome about checking in on me and my hubby. Were had lots of support from friends as well, which was amazing. My parents also made it through a terrible time with COVID-19, and at their ages, we were very nervous.

And finally, I’m happy to still have a job. Not everybody can say that right now, especially in my industry, which has taken deep cuts to staff and local broadcasting efforts.  Working from home has not been my preference, but having the ability to do it is a blessing that I didn’t expect to ever have. This month I celebrated my 23rd year at WBNQ and my 30th year in radio. Who knows what 2021 will bring, but I’m glad I get to find out with you here in Bloomington Normal!

Happy New Year!

Susan Saunders 12/31/20