It’s insane to think I’m yet again back at this blog writing thing, probably because I was just charged >$350 for my domain name. And I’m too lazy to figure out how to cancel the domain name.

Maybe not lazy, but just not interested, enough, to go through the hassle.

Plus, interestingly enough, its been ~1 year since my last post. Its been one year since the world seemed to come crashing down around us. I can still remember checking in to my hotel for a week at the client site, ready to take on the long hours, free nights, and free treadmill. And upon check-in was told I may have to leave because EY was pulling everyone home. Personally, I felt it a gross overreaction and massive infringement on my service level to my client. But hey, wasn’t my decision.

I was convinced this was going to be a couple weeks. Convinced I’d be back to work in no time. Convinced my nail appointment in mid March was nowhere near the last for MONTHS on end. Convinced my hair appointment was nowhere near the last for MONTHS on end. I mean, come on, this is ridiculous. I thought.

But globally the numbers kept rising. COVID numbers. Unemployment numbers. Blood pressure numbers. As a family we were starting to wonder how long this could go on, and what about life in general? The husband was furloughed. The toddler was now home full time. I was now home full time. It felt impossible to be living this situation.

I will say we were blessed. We have wonderful friends in Brooklyn who essentially took us in for months on end because they have a 10×10 backyard. Enough for RJ to run around in circles and blow off some steam. Enough for me to sit outside with the laptop and not go completely stir crazy. And, I will say, the diverse adult conversation most assuredly saved my marriage. (I’m kidding, or am I?) And having an extended family setup allowed the husband to have a purpose besides keeping RJ alive. He had to cook dinner, every, single, night. And every, single, person, was excited about dinner. Every. Single. Night.

Like so many others, this past year has been a haze. We woke up yesterday ‘springing forward,’ and I couldn’t help to think, to what? I’m not afraid of the future, c’est la vie. Whatever happens, will happen. But I sure as hell am proud of what is going on in the world. I’m not evening talking vaccines. I’m talking about people taking a step back to see the forest for the trees. People, myself included, realizing that everything we’ve been taking for granted for so long can be ripped out from under us in the blink of an eye. I believe innately we all knew this fact, but I can’t help but feel the rude awakening from the past year.

A lot can change in 365 short days. And truthfully, I think its inevitable that we’ve all grown in one way or another. For the better. Even if we haven’t quite figured out how, yet.

So – here’s to another round of my figuring out a blog. It’ll most assuredly be messy, and probably random, and full of rants. And probably some terrible iphone photos since I just cant be bothered dealing with tripods and all the rest of it. Maybe people will read, maybe they wont. But hopefully one day #richardjoseph will at least be able to “hear” my voice through my words.

Here’s to another year, whatever it may bring. And seriously, f*ck you COVID, and thank you COVID. You’re like a bad breakup. A really, terrible, no good, very awful, breakup. Now please, leave us alone.