The Year of 2020
2020
We find it hard to write year-end reflections for 2020. This has been a chaotic, heart-rending, and difficult year for so many, so although we feel fortunate as a family, we recognize the hardships that were and are experienced by others.
So, we start with sympathy for those impacted dramatically by COVID, through health, economics, relationship, and/or profession. We also recognize the racial reckoning that this year has highlighted in unprecedented ways — painful, but oh so needed, and our family pledges that we will continue to do our own personal work to be anti-racists. We also stand with other marginalized populations for whom these times have been surreal and discomfiting, including many in immigrant and LBGTQ+ communities. We know that all of us have many identities, not just the ones that may seem obvious to others, and that the many ways we attempt to define, divide, and exclude others are often purely socially constructs, and don’t respect or acknowledge those many identities.
Tory, Adam, and Isla Michelle! November 2020.
That said, we’ll turn to the wonderful news that Isla Michelle Frange was born to Tory and Adam on October 8th, and as we write this, Isla is barreling through her 3rd month of life. Tory, Adam, and Isla celebrated the holidays in non-traditional ways: ordered sushi (feast of seven fishes), wore hipster beanies (elf hats), and danced to Stevie Wonder (Christmas carols).
Meeting Isla Michelle, San Francisco, November 2020
Parents and child are doing well, albeit without a lot of sleep! After an elaborate process of quarantining and COVID testing on all ends, we new grandparents were able to spend most of the month of November in San Francisco (courtesy of remote work processes), helping out in any way that we could. Spending those early days with Isla were magical, and spending so much quality time with Tory and Adam was amazing as well.
News from Banks and Jeff
In 2020, Banks is moving his career towards the field of clinical psychology. After 8 great years in arts education, Banks made the choice to fully transition into a career in mental health, returning to full-time clinical work on the frontlines at Veritas, an eating disorder clinic. He also began taking classes at North Carolina State to shore up applications for PhD programs to hopefully start in the Fall of 2021. He wants to work with adolescents and young adults towards fostering resilience and hope in the midst of mental health treatment. We hope, in this year of strange admissions processes for doctoral candidates, that he will find success.
Despite the stresses and strains of 2020, Banks and Jeff still found adequate time to continue their pursuit of finding Walter, the legendary monster trout of their dreams. This summer, Jeff and Banks both had reasonable attempts, with Jeff landing Walter’s little brother, while Banks bested that effort, and landed Walter’s little sister.
That said, we’ll turn to the wonderful news that Isla Michelle Frange was born to Tory and Adam on October 8th, and as we write this, Isla is barreling through her 3rd month of life. Tory, Adam, and Isla celebrated the holidays in non-traditional ways: ordered sushi (feast of seven fishes), wore hipster beanies (elf hats), and danced to Stevie Wonder (Christmas carols).
Parents and child are doing well, albeit without a lot of sleep! After an elaborate process of quarantining and COVID testing on all ends, we new grandparents were able to spend most of the month of November in San Francisco (courtesy of remote work processes), helping out in any way that we could. Spending those early days with Isla were magical, and spending so much quality time with Tory and Adam was amazing as well.
Banana Bread Therapy
We want to share an important cure-all remedy that we have proven over and over again this year. It’s called BB Therapy, or “banana bread therapy.” We are pretty sure that it cures almost all ills, particularly when toasted and slathered in butter. In fact, Tory thinks it should be amended to BBB Therapy to highlight the critical role of butter. So that friends and family can take advantage of this discovery, we share the recipe below, from Charlotte’s mom, Carol Swope Reeves. Carol always swore that the secret ingredient was the buttermilk. Jeff, however, thinks that the walnuts are the key.
Once again this year, knowing what to say about our national political situation is so difficult. Knowing that not all who received this email will agree with our opinions, beliefs, and values, we are optimistic for the first time in many years, but know that the ravages and divisiveness will take time to heal. To drive the country forward, we need real leaders who will acknowledge all identities, and encourage people to live into the best versions of their selves. Although reasons exist to be pessimistic about the great harm to our democratic institutions that must be undone, for the long term we believe in the strength of our country’s heritage and institutions, its collective values, and its people.
With our best wishes for a better 2021…
Jeff, Charlotte, and all the family.
And now, she can sleep.