Yesterday, my husband (Dean) and I were discussing when the new decade begins: is it January 1, 2020 or January 1, 2021? I looked it up and the answer appears to be either. Officially, it begins in 2021; but culturally 2019 is the end of the ‘10s and January 1, 2020 begins the 20s.
I choose to see one decade coming to a close and another beginning. Dean and I have lived in the same house this entire decade. In the past decade, Dean and I have lost family members and beloved pets. As we age, we more and more experience loss of not only an older generation, but our generation. However, we’ve also experienced the joy of our family’s youngest generation: babies being born, young adults finding their place in the world.
At the Y, we’ve also experienced loss, joy, old and new. I’m sure those reading this now know at least one Y member who passed away in this decade. We remember each of them in their way…playing water volleyball, teaching exercise classes, providing a spot to a weight lifter; their impact is with us every day. We’ve seen the joy of toddlers in Kids Gym running & playing, of an older adult reconnecting with friends over coffee. Our long time members (I won’t call them “old members”) welcome new members to group exercise classes, to coffee in the lobby, to Child Watch…to being part of this amazing thing that is the Marion Family YMCA.
I’m looking forward to the next decade…to growing older with all of you and together experiencing loss, joy, old and new.
May you have the very happiest of New Years.
-Theresa Lubke, Executive Director
