2020 – What A Year!

Looking at 2020 in the Distance

When I was a youngster growing up in Cape Town in the 70’s, I would try to imagine what the year 2020 would bring. I wondered where I’d be and what my life would be like.

It seemed so far in the future. However, the symmetry of the year 20-20 seemed to have an almost magical and mystical quality to it. Perfect Vision!

Although it may look like an antique picture of me and my two sisters, this is actually a photo on my mom, my aunt and uncle.

The long and winding journey to get to 2020

The journey to get here has been amazing.  It started with being selected by the local Rotary Club in Sea Point for a high school youth exchange program to the United States. My eyes and horizon widen when I traveled to the States as a teen.

I completed college, and then grad school while living and working in New York City in the 80’s. Then I moved to San Diego in 1990. I connected with SAJAC and settled down in the Cape Town-like environment and started a family, while launching my career as a financial planner.

The years were good. Being a dad to two wonderful children was amazing. I was rewarded in my chosen career and gratified helping families to achieve their financial goals.  A few years ago, I discovered open water swimming. Last year I successfully completed the Robben Island crossing in Cape Town.

This was at my sons high school graduation. He is now works at Google.

Flash forward 45 years, and here we are…2020

At the start of 2020, I set a new goal to challenge myself and raise money for charities – to swim from Cardiff (Swami’s Beach) to La Jolla Cove in September of this year.

Then, around my birthday in March, things began to change. In a matter of weeks, a virus was making its way to the USA. Soon the first global pandemic in a century hit and things changed rapidly.

Global Pandemic

The stock market (Dow Jones) crashed, by 7% in one day on March 9th, and a total drop of 31% before recovering.

Lockdown, recession, and unemployment for millions became the new reality.  People became fearful and many panicked because of the uncertainty. As of August 2020, there are about 160,000 Covid-19 deaths in the US alone.

Frontline health care workers, essential workers, minorities, and the elderly have been infected and dying at higher rates.

Political and Social Unrest

The brutal killing of George Floyd by a racist policeman exposed long simmering racial injustice and economic inequality. People of all color took to the streets to protest and demand change, despite the dangers. Antisemitism continued to be on the rise.

During this time, the government response was to downplay the extent of the virus and confront protestors to restore law and order.

So, What’s Ahead?

In the short term, the general election … which is likely to be highly contentious.  Beyond 2020, I look forward to recovery, renewal and rejuvenation. I know it will take time, even though drug companies are in a race to discover an effective vaccine.

I count my blessings and look at 2020 as an opportunity to change and adapt.  I am getting used to working from my home office and staying in touch with clients using Zoom.  Of course, email or the phone is an easy way to stay connected.  But I do miss and look forward to meeting clients face-to-face again.

I will continue to challenge myself by swimming to keep my balance, give back and maintain good physical and mental health.

More importantly, I will continue to listen to families that need a guide to help them navigate life’s twists and turns.

Here’s to 2020 and beyond.