I’ll Never Forget the Silence of 2020

It is the sound of silence that will always haunt me when I think about 2020.

The year was notable for the sound and fury coming from all corners of life. Whether it was the loud lies coming from our racist president, the ridiculous “protests” against masks, the toxicity of social media, the never-ending election, or the constant bickering on cable news.

But like most sound and fury, it ultimately signified nothing.

That’s why the sound of silence that took over Washington, D.C. is the sound I’ll never forget from this year.

It began in mid-March when businesses closed, office workers like me retreated to home offices, and we embarked on our new abnormal lives. In those days, I really only left my apartment for two reasons — to go to the grocery store and take my dog for a walk. And while I love walking my dog, those eerie walks have lingered.

Taking my dog for a work in the afternoon — especially on a nice day — was usually accompanied by a lot of noise. Cars driving by and honking. People sitting eating and drinking at restaurants. Groups walking together. Runners, bikers, you name it, the streets would be alive on a sunny day.

Instead, the streets were empty. You may take the silence for granted if you live outside of a city, like my parents in…