The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of NightMoves and AAN

To say that 2020 has been a very unusual, strange, wacky year would be, hands down, the understatement of the century. Almost nothing has seemed to go right in so many ways that has affected millions of people all over the country. The COVID-19 pandemic really flipped this country upside down and changed the attitude of people unlike anything we have ever seen.  To add on to all the troubles, sickness, deaths and overworked doctors, nurses and emergency workers this pandemic caused, we had a political year that was one of the dirtiest, most hateful in the history of our great country all because of the deep seeded hatred by one party of the man who sits in the White House.

The childishness and ignorance of both political parties, and yes at times the President, certainly didn’t help soothe the anger, frustration and hurt we have all been feeling for the past ten months. Now we enter a Christmas season that is by far, the most distressful, saddest, unfeeling holiday season I can remember, and I have been around a long, long, long time. Trying to get into the spirit has been a chore and I am still trying.

The ridiculous back and forth “he said, she said” mentality of both the Democrats and Republicans did little to make the country feel better. The shutdowns, businesses closed, many going out of business, the mandates, the stay at home orders, the restrictions, the confusing numbers and figures on a daily basis that don’t seem to make sense, outlandish claims and comments by mayors, governors, from one end of the country to the other. Then there is the national news media who did nothing to help the country try to feel a little better in the worst of times during this pandemic. Instead they just continued to strike fear, panic and division among the people and it was every network, not just one or two. Instead of building up the confidence level of the American people they continued to tear it down right through the elections until they all got what they wanted, regardless of how they got it.

Now we have vaccines just about ready to be approved and used to help alleviate, once and for all, this COVID pandemic. The president’s “warp speed” program that was laughed at and ridiculed by the left has become a reality and he deserves credit for getting it done, but unfortunately he won’t. Be that as it may, the vaccines, when approved, and let’s hope the FDA doesn’t take weeks or months to approve it, should go a long way to finally flattening the curve and hopefully putting an end to this frightful period of time we have all gone through that has  cost people more than just money. The lives lost, the jobs lost, the confidence in government lost and for many, their own self worth lost because of all the pressures this pandemic brought.

All of this has made for a very unsettling Christmas season. Shopping in the stores with an upbeat holiday attitude is missing with all the restrictions. Holiday decorations, from what I have seen thus far, do not seem as plentiful and extravagant as in years past. I have noticed that many places that would sell Christmas trees to raise money for schools, charities, etc. are not as many or are much smaller this year. On a personal level, I am one who always loves to decorate the house inside and out, at Christmas time, but this year I just have not had the drive, desire and mental energy to do it. If no decorations and a tree are skipped this year it will be the very first time.

Hopefully, as we come to the end of this devastating year, 2021 and the future will have a much more positive and brighter look and feel, God knows we could certainly use it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccines coming our way, but still, we cannot let our guard down and it will take a massive effort by everyone to put an end to this pandemic and get our lives back in order.

In closing, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, have as joyous holiday season as you can, please stay safe, stay healthy and keep a positive attitude that things will get better. 2021 will be brighter, better and lead us back to a normal way of life again.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN