Here's a thing 2020 got right.

A family member came out as trans. Everyone in my very Southern family switched to the new name and correct gender without resistance.

In private, there were requests to help remember.

One person said, "I don't want to be Rowling."

The family member texted before arriving. "How do I handle telling [x]?"

"He already knows and is practicing using the right pronouns. He wants to use [childhood nickname] so he doesn't screw up."

A decade ago?

There would have been mockery and resistance.

Thanks to everyone who built a foundation made of painful conversations.

Even with social distancing, this year my family member got to come home.

For real.