Retrospective: Community Shares What

retrospective: Community Shares What It Has Learned, Lost and Gained in 2020 Voices from QNotes Readers

BY QNOTES STAFF

This past year has in a parking garage. Those four been a challeng- rehearsals helped us reconnect ing and chaotic with each other and with our one that will go down music. It helped us find a way for in many a history book our souls to sing out loud. yet to be written as a That’s what I’ve gained from frightful mess. From the pandemic (in addition to a protests to a world- whole bunch of new technical wide pandemic to skills), a renewed sense that muhorrendous pushback sic connects us and allows us to from a governmental express our innermost feelings. administration that It’s a tremendous gift, and in the was hell-bent on strip- future, we’ll treasure it each time ping the rights of a we gather to summon music out sector of its citizenry, of thin air. the minds of everyone have had to deal with so many issues, too What a challenge 2020 has been for everyone. (Photo Credit: concepts via Adobe Stock) Buck Jones Author many to name. Paris, France qnotes asked optimistic that the full side is ascendant, One can only think of that the community to share what they have which gives me hope we can recover from ancient Chinese curse, “May You Live In learned, lost and gained from their experi- the pandemic and build back even better. Interesting Times,” when remembering ences in 2020. Here is a sampling of those 2020 marks my retirement and the end the year that was 2020. For many of us, who were gracious enough to share their of my work at the City, with 2021 the year the challenges pushed us to our limits. In thoughts. of new beginnings for me as well as the my case, as a small business owner runcountry. I learned to trust that issues I care ning a small café, our livelihood is in the Jermaine Nakia Lee about will be advanced by others that care Dad, Songwriter, Playwright, Director, as well. And for that trust, that I journey Producer, Community Activist with others who will carry us forward, I am Charlotte, N.C. very grateful.

Thank you 2020 for the abundance of fear, isolation, uncertainty and heartache John C. Quillin you provided without ceasing. I am grate- Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte, Managing ful for that interruption of EVERYTHING Artistic Director; Carolina Voices’ because it forced me to recalibrate: to Impromptu, Director re-evaluate relationships, to self-reflect, The pandemic dealt us a body-blow: re-imagine my future, cling to loved ones we lost our ability to sing together, which and not take LIFE for granted. Thank you is at the very core of who we as the Gay kindly... but good riddance. Men’s Chorus of Charlotte are. Singing, it turns out, is an extremely effective Tom Warshauer way of transmitting COVID, so face-toAssistant Director, Community face rehearsals and performances were Engagement – Housing & Neighborhood out of the question. We held rehearsals Services, City of Charlotte over Zoom, we tried utilizing specialized Charlotte, N.C. rehearsal software, we’ve even produced

Half full, half empty. I learned that just virtual events and music, but this is a far, over half the country wants reason, equity far cry from our regular experiences. and civility to return to the public realm. Eventually, we managed to have a few And the other half seems empty. I live in-person, socially-distanced rehearsals balance. Facing financial ruin, my husband and I struggle to remain optimistic but also realistic about our situation, and have learned to focus on what we can actually do. I can choose to be nice or a grouch. I can smile, or “smize” with my eyes over my face-mask, or I can wallow in self-pity.

It might sound la-dee-dah, but it works.

Psychologists say that the most stressful moments in life are when facing health challenges, financial worries and lip-synching for your life on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Maybe that last one is for only a select few, but I could also add that this year also brought stress with the election. But again, just focusing on what you can control — wearing a face-mask, washing hands, social distancing, not spending any money on non-necessities, cutting back on expenses, negotiating with creditors, voting early, and making sure your friends voted early — is the biggest lesson I learned. If I can’t control it, I refuse to worry about it.

In the meantime, I’m going to work on my wardrobe “reveal” for “RuPaul’s” runway. This queen is going to be ready for 2021! : :