Finally at last, the final day of the shittiest year in history, or at least in my lifetime — I’ve spent now more than 72 years here on this planet and nothing compares to 2020 for the sheer volume of shitty shit.
Topping that list, or course, is the horror of the COVID-19 pandemic, which still surges through the fabric of the entire world, with my state of California apparently leading the way.

Here in the Central Valley we’re still at zero ICU beds and dying is out of control — via Merced Sun-Star yesterday afternoon: ‘Four more lives were also claimed by the virus, County Public Health confirmed Wednesday. Merced County’s total fatalities traced back to COVID-19 increased to 252 with the new deaths. That’s 20 lives reported lost in seven days.‘

Down south in LA County it’s way-far worse, yesterday they topped 10,000 total deaths (once again, h/t for tweet BJ):

As COVID slams LA’s hospitals, patients are “piled in administrative hallways, stuffed in the corners, hanging over chairs,” said one healthcare worker.

“It was like practicing Civil War medicine. It was the worst shift of my life.” https://t.co/koXqZswnCk

— Soumya (@skarlamangla) December 30, 2020

My go-to site every morning for terrible COVID news is Balloon Juice, the best update to US and world standings on the pandemic — bad reading so early, but unfortunately way-necessary. It’s a by-product of this terrible year.
Yesterday nationwide, more than 3,740 COVID deaths were reported, a record for the second straight day. Even worse, the CDC estimates another 80,000 Americans could die in the next three weeks.
Meanwhile back here in California, we set a statewide record of 432 deaths yesterday, bringing the overall pandenic total to 25,000.
Along with those shitty mumbers, California became the secod state to have a COVID offspring:

A day after a man in his 20s from Colorado was reported to have the first confirmed case of the new variant, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Golden State had also detected a case.
Newsom announced the news during an online call with Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“I don’t think Californians should think that this is odd. It’s to be expected,” Fauci said.

Sorry, it’s still shitty, expected or not.
Ad the shit is hitting hard everywhere — New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called it: ‘“Please stay at home and ring in the New Year safely with the members of your immediate household.”‘

However, unpredictably is actually what really makes COVID so shittly fightening:

An Illinois family is mourning the loss of their “perfectly healthy” teenage daughter who died of complications due to COVID-19 this month.

Sarah Simental, an 18-year-old from Tinley Park, died on Dec. 26, just three days after being admitted to the hospital with a positive coronavirus test, according to NBC Chicago.

Her mother, Deborah Simental, told the outlet that her daughter had been following all of the safety precautions and had only seen her boyfriend prior to experiencing symptoms.
…
The following morning, Deborah took Sarah to get a COVID-19 test and her results came back positive. Deborah, Sarah’s boyfriend and the boyfriend’s father continued to test negative.

“I truly have no idea how she contracted it,” Deborah told the station.
…
Deborah hopes that her daughter’s story will act as a reminder for people to take the pandemic seriously.

“[Sarah’s] dad and I are here to tell you — that it is real,” Deborah told NBC Chicago.
“There will be more holidays, birthdays, all these events we are not able to do. You will have them again. This took my daughter and we are not going to be able to have those again.”

“Please, wear a mask, social distance. Don’t worry about getting together for these events, just wait until this is under control,” she urged.

“You are not in the position that her father and I are in right now. Nobody should have to bury their child. No parent should have to watch their child go through what my daughter went through. It’s been a nightmare,” she added.

Another heartbreak story fron a heartbreak year…

(Illustration: M.C Escher’s ‘Scholastica,’ found here).