2020 Holiday Special, Act I
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What does the theatrical opening set up for the Holiday Special?
Hello, nocturnous family. It's me. Emily Silverman. We have something special planned for you today. A little flight of fancy. I know this year has been so hard on us. But our talent and creativity has no bounds. So let's do something new, okay? Okay. Close your eyes. You're in a theater. A small arts theater that smells of wood and old veneer. People are trickling in. Taking their seats. You haven't been in a real tier surrounded by a real crowd in almost twelve months. Neither have we. And we miss it. So for this holiday season, we've put together a variety show. With your help, of course. We have music and stories galore. So many in fact that we decided to split the show into two parts, both airing today. You can choose to listen through or pause and listen to them separately.
Oh wait. The lights are dimming.
We gather here on Zoom to remember twenty twenty. A year that made us Laugh a little and cry a lot. A year that was relentless. It's no secret twenty twenty really sucked. Particularly as a health care provider and a New Yorker. You know, I think overflowing hospitals and morgues and the constant wailing of sirens are things that we're all gonna grapple with probably for the rest of our lives. I think back on conversations. That happened that I never thought could happen. at the institution that I'm in or in the country that I'm in. Twenty twenty really took away any notion of invincibility. It also took away things I didn't even know I wanted or needed. Like I thought I hated going out to brunch. It's like a time drain to like commute to a restaurant.
Wait outside until your table is ready, dine, commute home, etcetera. Turns out I like need to do those things besides seeing my friends, which is an obvious need. I need to take the subway and people watch. I need to stand outside in the sun and like fresh air until the server calls our name. I need to walk home. Actually, it turns out that that is living. Like the majority of living is like the stuff that happens in between the less frequent bigger moments. And it's not just that that I have to cut away, it's kind of essential. Goodbye to twenty twenty. Truly the darkest of years. Goodbye to crying so much. The first four times I tried to record this, I cried. Goodbye to Trump, but the administration, their complete failure to even I don't even know, recognize that this virus exists.
uh the domino effect of all the failures that followed from the very beginning. Rampant neglect. Goodbye to lockdowns. goodbye to social isolation for so many of us who don't have families or kids or partners, but mostly just goodbye to The cognitive dissonance of this year. As an infectious disease physician and researcher, I really thought that a pandemic would be a time when I would be like most proud of my country. I've respected and venerated the C D C my whole life and to see our institutions be So fragile and fail so quickly that Because of political interference. is honestly frightening to me, remains frightening to me, and I'm not sure that lessons have been learned. I fear for this country. Hello to twenty twenty one.
We have two highly effective vaccines, probably quite a few more on the way that are gonna be rolled out very shortly. I look forward to the C D C's re emergence and reiminence. I don't know how I personally would have dealt with the bureaucratic shutdown that they suffered. I think I would have rage quit the C D C and I actually thought that all the career scientists that remained there were doing the wrong thing. And now I see that by waiting they're they're gonna have their chance to turn it around. I really hope books are written about this time. Dear twenty twenty, you are such a rat. Yeah, twenty twenty is the year of the rat 'cause this is the year where we go to the grocery stores, hoard everything, and then hide.
It's also the year of the rat because It seems like perhaps th the worst of human nature and the worst of humankind reveals itself. And all the weaknesses And all the failings. But then at the same time. The year of the rat.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What does the theatrical opening set up for the Holiday Special?
0:00–5:58
2
How do the hosts reflect on the challenges of 2020 and the pandemic?
5:58–13:36
3
What personal stories do healthcare workers share about loss and resilience?
13:36–18:38
4
What moments of gratitude and community are highlighted by the contributors?
18:38–21:18
5
How does the episode say goodbye to 2020 and look toward 2021?
21:18–39:06