annus horribilis

So Ernie, how was your year?

So it’s the end of 2020. Kareem’s been watching The Crown a lot, so the phrase annus horribilis comes to mind. That was the phrase Queen Elizabeth used in her Ruby Jubilee speech in 1992; I thought that was the year that Lady Diana died, but nope — it’s when Prince Andrew and Fergie divorced, Diana’s autobiography went public talking about their extramarital affairs, and when Charles and Diana got separated. I’m not really too in-the-know about my British monarchies, but it helps when your partner is an Anglophile, you’re in your forties and know just enough pop culture, and your sister declares Princess Diana “talks to her brain” on her regular basis.

It’s been a rough year for everyone. I know that. I’ve been walloped with those same challenges as well. It’s just that my problems also served with the world’s most fucked up cherry on top, and I wanted to write down all of the things while they were still fresh in my mind.

I'm also going to write down the other things that went on this …