“Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?” Oh those famous lyrics that so many get wrong or don't understand but sing every New Year's Eve.

Having read different accounts concerning the meaning behind the phrase and also the connection to our New Year's celebration, we have come to one definite conclusion, and that would be “to hell with 2020.” Old friends and happy times need not ever be forgotten but very little of that would apply to 2020.

We can never get this year back to redo. There are no mulligans even if both are originally Scottish phrases. Thinking back over the year; what have we missed the most?

1. Family traditional celebrations including weddings, baptisms, anniversaries and funerals. These are of such huge historical significance to families but we will have a hole in time that is left unfilled

2. Travel and vacation time aren't fully appreciated by young generations. They don't yet feel the physical need to recharge and reorganize as their parents and grandparents do, but they do learn at a young age the importance of building traditions and memories. We have been robbed of all those things in 2020. No beach houses with multigenerational get-togethers and for most of us not even the annual family reunion.

3. Religious rites of passage. Beyond the bigger celebrations for weddings and funerals are the various customs and beliefs that we share with friends, family and church members. Whether it is wearing the same baptismal clothing that has passed through generations, reciting of Scripture as our family has done for generations, or even attending services on a regular basis to remind ourselves of our common commitment to our faith and customs. How well will churches bounce back post-COVID is a big question. We are not optimistic that people won't become comfortable with the new normal of not attending services in person. Religion may be losing importance in many people's minds every day that goes by without religious contact. We created a special prayer message column in the early days of the pandemic, but it was stopped after the religious leaders determined it was extra work for them rather than the outreach we had seen it as for them. The readers loved it, but the faith leaders didn't share that enthusiasm.

4. Award dinners were missed this year. No one was honored by most groups that have always recognized excellence and outstanding service to organizations or the community. There will be vacant spaces for 2020 on the printed programs for future banquets with maybe an asterisk and footnote saying COVID took away the honor. There were few parades, fireworks displays and festivals.

5. The forever memories of school days were not created on a level which the students have always enjoyed. There are no memories of senior prom, homecoming, senior play, battle of the bands, senior skip-day and graduation. Championship playoffs were canceled or cut short.

6. Dining out is something that certainly was taken for granted until March. Who could ever have imagined a time when we would be ordered to stay out of our favorite restaurants and bars? Is it fair to estimate that the closure of dining establishments — whether it be a fancy 5-star establishment or our favorite shot-and-a-beer club — eliminated 70% of the social lives which we once had? Recreational activities ranging from bowling and golf to card clubs and bocce were abruptly halted. Memberships at gyms, the YMCA, private clubs and even walking circles in shopping malls were affected.The world changed. Hopefully for just one year. But most celebrations that were postponed probably will never happen, and some annual events will be forever lost just like the businesses that are being killed.Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? We hope that we all can forget as much as possible about 2020 and find new hopes and dreams and a better new year in 2021.Happy New Year, and please wear your mask.

— RV