2020: Trial, error, learn, adapt, repeat

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Buh-bye, 2020.

Anyone else excited to utter that phrase when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31? I ran across a post on social media not long ago which said, “2020 has been the longest decade of my life.” Couldn’t agree more.

Out of curiosity I pulled out the Jan./Feb. 2020 issue of The WELDER and re-read the Under the Hood column I wrote. I’m sad and somewhat embarrassed to see that my biggest concern at the time was turning 40 and growing old. HA! That sentiment did not age well, no pun intended.

December’s issue of The WELDER is an unintentional reflection of the very chaotic, up-and-down 2020 we’ve had. I’ll first point your attention to a heartfelt and moving tribute Josh Welton penned about his father Tim, who died in March. It’s a tough but beautiful read, and I can certainly relate to it on a personal level; perhaps you can too.

A little less than two months after Josh lost his dad, I lost mine. And like Josh’s dad, mine was also a Mr. Fixit who was always right, to the point of annoyance. My dad was a true craftsman who possessed an incredible IQ within his hands. He was a plumber by trade, but he could have easily been a woodworker, a contractor, an artist, or anything else that involved using his hands. He just had that ability.

He was a terrific husband to my mom, father to his five children, and grandfather of six. There’s so much more I could say about him. He was the greatest and he is terribly missed.

This year has revealed some good as well, which is certainly helpful because I can’t imagine closing the door on 2020 without being able to reflect on the positives.

The year got off to a precarious start for Jessica and Daniel Crosby, co-founders of Crosby & Drumm, the subject of December’s cover story. When I reached out to Jessica back in early March before the COVID-19 shutdowns, she seemed excited and optimistic at what was ahead. Things changed drastically in the world and at their business just a few short weeks later, and they were less eager to talk—understandably so—and more eager to put their heads down and focus on getting whatever work they could to keep the doors open. They did – the doors are still open, and business is growing despite nothing going according to their original plan. Trial, error, learn, adapt, repeat.

I guess we’re all trying to do that, whether it’s in our professional or personal lives.

Thank you for sticking with us this year. Hopefully, the stories and columns we’ve featured have given you a brief reprieve from the craziness this year has provided. Have a wonderful holiday season.

Bring on 2021.