It's been too long since I last wrote as the days, weeks, months of 2020 continue to slowly pass by. This election week has been worse than most, as I was filled with the anxiety of waiting for a result and hoping for a new way forward.
I hopef for less hate, more tolerance. I hope that more voices will have a seat at the table. I have nothing against white men, but they shouldn't be the only voices in power. I am happy to see a woman rise to the 2nd highest office in our country. This is progress.
I hope for a peaceful transition of power and a government that can start to collaborate and compromise for the good of the people. I fear that those who hate will not go quietly, but as Dan reminds me often, you can plan the action, but not the outcome.
One last thing about the election - this was Erin's first chance to vote. She and her friends were engaged and they understand voting rights and the electoral college way better than I did when I was 20! Erin told us being in the city of Philadelphia, which has been at the center of the election drama, has been invigorating. Erin loves her adopted city and the people in it.
One reason I haven't written much, is nothing much changes in 2020. We are definitely in a groundhog day scenario. We work, we grocery shop, we cook, we get tired of cooking so we get takeout... repeat...
We are entering another COVID wave and I don't think anything is going to change any time soon. This has put a real damper on what is usually our fundraising time of year for the Shannon O'Hara Foundation. We typically send a fundraising letter in December and then hold the Shannon Cup hockey tournamentsin January. While the tournament may still take place, the likelihood of having vendors in the arena is very small. So this may be a year where we don't raise any funds. Another COVID-19 casualty, but hopefully just a one year blip on the work of the foundation.
Despite a down year, the foundation finances are healthy and we still intend to give out scholarships again in 2021. This will be our 9th year, having awarded money to 26 kids to date. This is absolutely the best way we remember and honor Shannon, so even a pandemic won't stop us.
If you know a senior at a Rochester, MN high school who was involved with youth hockey and is pursuing higher education, please share our application with them. You do not have to be a high school hockey player to be eligible. Applications are due Jan. 10, 2021:
2021 Shannon O'Hara Memorial Scholarship
If you're curious, you can check out all our past winners here:
SOF Past Scholarship Recipients
Many of those past recipients are now done with college. Some are pursuing advanced degrees. Some are in the workforce. Some are getting married! Time does march on, even if 2020 has felt like an eternity.
The foundation work always reminds me that good can come from loss. 2020 has brought so much loss to so many, and I need to remember that there is a light at the other end of the tunnel. Here's to better days ahead... for us all...
