Many, if not most, of us receive an “annual letter” from friends who sum up the past twelve months to give us an idea what life was like for each family member. We received one, part of which I thought was very relevant as we enter 2021…

2020 – started out like a good year and ended not so good. X died on December 5th of the virus. She had gotten sick at the beginning of October and went to the hospital and there somehow, she contracted the virus. X was 83…

2020 – a year of many changes:

No vacation with family for the first time in 35 years – no Holiday get together – which also means that we won’t be having our annual New Year’s Day get together, no picnics, no ringing the bell for the Salvation Army – no football game or tailgating with friends – have been doing all these things for the last 30 years – but then thee is 2021. Hugs and kisses, the most important thing that we missed the most.

Not all of the changes have been bad. Still do Meals on Wheels (with precautions). Have learned to be patient, with truth be known, I wasn’t a patient person. Also, we learned to appreciate the things that we took for granted, the singing of the birds, the warmth of the summer sun and the beauty of the changing leaves in the fall – The fact that we have a wonderful family and great friends…

Let’s all remember that “not all of the changes have been bad” as we enter the new year; and let’s remember that as frightening as COVID-19 is there is great hope with the vaccines, great hope with the promise of justice and kindness, truth and dignity, and great hope if we always appreciate our family and great friends.

May each and every one of us, our loved ones, our nation, our world

have a 2021 filled with joy, peace and the best of health!