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Years End.

2020

By David Metcalfe

December 31^st, 2020

2020:

Yuuuuuup. That happened.

I enjoyed looking through my photos this year. I realized how lucky we had it in Manitoba and how blessed I am to be surrounded by the people that I am. To my family, friends, and coworkers – I love you. Thanks for helping me get through 2020 (the weirdest one yet). I probably won't write about the virus much, because it hasn't already stripped so much normal away from me. I want this to be a platform where it doesn't have that power. Some of these photos are emotional and some are just funny. They all tell the same story. Most of them are terrible quality or taken with my phone.. I'm cool with that though. Click the songs titles to hear what I listened to this year, like usual. Stay safe folks.

January: Resolution, When The Party's Over, & Silver Lining

January was emotional wow. 2019 had this picture perfect ending and I wasn't ready for that chapter to be closed just yet. I learned what I wanted before I even realized what I had. They had burned me out and my love for photography was gone. I started my Masters and it became everything. Too many mornings before work writing papers – too many evenings doing the same. Grinding out those 70 hours weeks came back too easily – it was familiar. The circle expanded and that was good.

February: Carefully in the Dark, Better Now, & Breathe Deeper.

Things progressed. I gave my two weeks and felt at peace again. I realized money will never make me happy (cliché, I know). February was a lot of driving, a lot of tea, and a love of Super Smash Bros. I began to dream again, and my church dreamed alongside me. I started to shadow. February was the beginnings of change. February was the last of what I knew to be normal. February was my fave.

March: Evening / Morning, Falling, & Electric Feel.

No one expected this. I have never gone from such happiness to such uncertainty. I learned how important good friendships are. I learned that while I am an introvert, I have limits to isolation. Looking after your mental health became important to everyone. March cemented my path. The smiles of March used to be so real. We really didn't know how good we had it.

The last weekend of normal was strange. Thursday was my first service as staff at Anchor Point and I could barely hear anything because my sinuses were so plugged up. On Friday things began to feel more serious – news began to spread and the world began to shut down. Winnipeg still felt safe though. Saturday was the last of it. Church the next morning was going to be recorded and things began to take a different tone. A small group of us were out for bubble tea, we facetimed with friends and spent one last night just chilling. Sunday I woke up to a bitterly cold day. We drove to a friends place and had waffles to watch church online. We met at the church after to dream again but little did we know we would have to pause all these ideas so soon. That night I went out for the last time. I got home and felt guilty – other people were staying home and so should I. I went into a deep isolation.

That's all I'll write on the virus folks. It's a very real thing, and still impacts us all every day.. I just can't.

April: Whole Heart, Cheers, & Promise

Coffee and walks had become the normal. Facebook group calls. All my assignments were extended so I was flexible elsewhere. I started to wrestle with some thoughts – who am I really? Rissa came home. Pinawa became such an important haven for me. How do I find balance? April was uncertain. Those closest became closer. I think we all learned how to care for people and check in on them when needed.

Still, no one knew what was up. My love for photography came slowly back.

May: Valentine Girl, Feels Like Trouble, & Hallelujah.

A camping trip changed my year. The world – my world – was slowly recovering. We followed the rules and began to inch closer. March's habits took off, walks became hikes. The city opened up again. The weather helped, we were so lucky. May was a close second. We all started to realize this was it. I'm not sure why but I made it my mission to walk 10,000 steps every day. That lasted three months.

June: Touch of Heaven.

June was summer again. Summer was relatively normal again. The zoo, the forks, and a few new shops became the frequents. Adventures happened. The whiteshell became an escape. Fear started losing.

July: Something to Believe In, New Light, & Trick of the Light.

I actually hadn't been to the beach in years. I went multiple times. Coffees became iced. Patio season was allowed? Sick. Watch Empire at the drive in? Also sick. Birthdays happened, good food was had. Good times were had. Babies were born, churches met again. We floated the channel a few times.

Honestly July might have been my fave actually. It really didn't seem present at all. Miss you July.

I made some hard decisions, for me.

August: Bad Bad News, Magnetic, & The Plan.

August is a typical fave. It's literally everyones birthday and the weather is usually prime. August was a lot of the same though. I guess it didn't have the same ring to it because it felt like the end of normal. My birthday was a special day, I can't describe it. I'd for sure go back to August times again.

September: We Were the Same, Electric Love, & It Wont Be Long.

Back to school meant something this year. The colours changed right away. Summer activities turned to fall activities. Coffees slowly became warm again. We thought we were saying goodbye to one friend, but little did we know it was kind of a final send off for the year. Everything after has been a blur.

October: Lovers Carving, Slow Slips, & Watermelon Sugar.

I started to hermit in October. This is my fave season, and fave month of the season. I pierced my nose and stressed about school a lot. Churches shut down, then kinda opened, then shut down again. October has imprinted how the rest of this year will play out. Also the snows back – yay. Lets sk8.

November: Daft Pretty Boys, In the Moment, & Gone.

I have nothing to show or much to say. Listen to the songs?

December: Moment, Blueberry Wine, & Where's My Love?

An echo of November with a few more photos. I started to be honest with others and myself though.

I didn't have a lot of energy for this post this year, or motivation. I blame it on what shall not be named. I truly am looking forward to 2021 and I think things will start to get better. If you've read it this far, I appreciate you. I hope you enjoyed the slimmed version of my favourite blog post.

See you next year!

Button Label

YEARS END

Years End.

2020

2019.

less can be more.

for your curiosity.

camera testing.

2018.

return of the pumpkins.