How would you summarize 2020—the most infuriating, frightening, depressing year in recent memory—if you had only six words to do it?
That’s what we invited our readers—and our staff—to do.
We were inspired by the legend that Ernest Hemingway, challenged to write a novel in six words, came up with this aching tidbit: “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.”
Here are just 25 of the many powerful mini-memoirs you sent us.
I can’t hear you. You’re muted!
Worst year in history. Corona sucks.
Everyone is at the breaking point.
Bars are open. Schools are closed.
No one in my family died.
Hello class, can everyone hear me?
Sad, depressing, weird, house bound. Strange.
So many losses, but we're surviving.
We must do better next time.
The superintendent cried during our interview.
First year teacher: crying and trying.
I have no motivation for anything.
Hardest year of teaching so far.
I'm sure I have no idea.
One exhausting Zoom meeting after another.
Unpredictable, violated, angry, dismal, shocking, progress.
Challenging, resilience, experimentation, learning, grace, community.
My students need more of me.
Happiness, hysteria, helplessness, hostility, humility, hope.
We're doing the best we can.
