A Summer Missed

There is no adequate way to describe what was missed this summer. The societal upheaval caused by Covid-19 turned the world upside down, leaving hardly anyone untouched. Nothing about this summer was “normal,” and nothing about our current reality is either.

While brainstorming ideas for this piece, I struggled to balance notions of the negative and the positive—I didn’t want to solely write about everything that was missed or the unsurmountable loss that has taken place. But I also didn’t want to only talk about the silver-linings that came out of a global pandemic. That felt grossly out of touch. I kept returning to this idea of balancing the good and the bad —not letting one overshadow the other.

The truth is, working to balance all the good that life has to offer with all the bad isn’t exclusive to life during Covid-19; that’s just life. Right now, the bad is amplified under the microscope of our current moment, tipping the scale towards despair rather than optimism.

I think it is courageous to actively seek out hope in a world that currently feels like one very bad thing after another. Personally, I struggle with this because I often fear that embracing the good demonstrates a willful ignorance of all that is not. When this fear creeps in, I come back to this quote from Howard Zinn’s book, You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train:

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. 

If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. 

The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” 

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives.

If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future.

The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”

Howard Zinn

And so, in an effort to live in defiance of the bad and to recapture some of the summer fun we all missed, here is a glimpse into our lost yearbook. The following are Armour’s musings about this summer: A summer of isolation and fear, but also of rest, connection, and believing in the future.

Photographs&Collage Ray McIntyre
Words Alaina Baumohl
Editor Haley Harris

Armour Magazine Season 25 — F/S 2020

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Kyle
Super Senior 🤩 | 5'6" 📏 | Working Out 🏋

Kyle might be short, but he's got a big personality. His Brothers from Alpha Delt call him peacock because of both his arrogance and style. Don't be fooled by the fratty attitude - Kyle's got a soft side. Not in a sweet way, though, just in a deeply insecure way. He's looking for someone to heat thing up in his bedroom this Valentine's.

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Bella
Cancer ♋️  | Empath 💕 | Animal Lover 🐾

Bella's the goth girlfriend of your dreams. Underneath the eyeliner, she's got a heart of gold, and is incredibly sweet. She believes relationships should be 50/50, and by that, she means she wants someone who spends 50% of their day with her and the other 50% wishing they were with her.
She's most compatible with Fire signs, and can't wait to find her next flame.

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Eleanor
Academic Weapon 💪 | ESTJ 🧠 | Vaccinated 💉

Eleanor is a Type-A business girly. Her Google Calendar is full and her LinkedIn is popping. She has extremely high standards for both herself and others, and is always striving to be the best. This girlboss has cleared her schedule this Valentines, and can't wait to meet her match.

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AJ
420 Friendly 🍃 | Lo Fi Beats 🎵 | Netflix and Chill 🍿

Aj (short for Anthony James, but please don't call him that) is one cool cat. This former pre-med-turned stoner now spends his days getting blitzed, playing Xbox, and carrying around his skateboard (which he never actually rides). Although his intense anxiety made him switch majors, he never switches up his self-medication regime, involving a quarter a week. In the spirit of the holiday, he's taking a break from lighting up to look for someone to light up his life.

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Who creates the perfect match?

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