Halfway there

W
hen we started the school year in August, I wasn’t sure how long we’d be able to be in the classroom, and when fall sports also began in August, I wasn’t sure they would finish their seasons.
As of Friday afternoon, we managed to complete the fall semester face-to-face, and not only did the fall sports complete their 2020 seasons, but the winter sports got under  way as well.
Living under the constant cloud of COVID-19 hasn’t made these last four months easy with the uncertainty of what the next month, week or even day was going to bring.
Would we come back to the classroom on Monday? Would we get to play the game on Friday? Will I test positive for COVID?
It took a minute for Newcastle to feel the weight of the virus, but when it hit, it hit hard. When a major employer for the community mass tested — which resulted in more than 20 positive results — we braced for a tier two possibility at the school. Fortunately, that scenario didn’t come to fruition.
However, the increase in positive cases across the state in early November put the winter sports in a precarious position, and after Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon instituted a mask mandate, coaches, players and fans held our collective breath
to see whether or not they would begin as
scheduled.
Once again, we dodged the bullet and all four teams got their seasons under way in the last two weekends.
Of course, it doesn’t look the way we are used to, with the restrictions on attendance and the mask mandates for everyone except the kids on the court, mat or pool, but at least the kids are getting to compete and for that everyone is grateful.
And thankfully, we have the NFHS Network which allows us to virtually attend basketball games and wrestling matches from the comfort of our couches. No, it’s not the same as being there and I feel bad for the kids because there’s nothing like having the support of the fans in the stands, but it’s better than nothing for sure.
As we go into Christmas break, I feel a sense of relief for what we’ve been able to accomplish so far this year, especially when looking
around at the rest of the country and even around the globe.
Apparently, there is a new strain of the virus that has prompted the British government to lockdown London over the Christmas holiday so much so that families are not allowed to gather if they do not live in the same household. 
I fervently hope that strain doesn’t jump the pond and start a new round of lockdowns and quarantines, but looking back over the last 10 months, I’m sure no one is taking the remainder of this school year for granted. 
However, over the next couple of weeks I am going to take full advantage of the break from school and sports to rest, refresh and reflect, and I hope everyone else does the same so that we can come back strong and ready to take on the second semester with gusto.
I wish for everyone a joyous Christmas holiday full of peace and love.