The holidays are upon us once again and these promise to be unlike any others. We anticipate the lights of the season as we simultaneously await the arrival of medicines to lift us out the pandemic. This year has tested us, frustrated us, confused us and infected us and still we endure with our circles of friends and family. It has been a challenging year, indeed, and we have struggled to meet the challenges, balancing health, finances and politics to stay strong and prepare for the opportunities to come.
Over the last week I’ve reached out to some of the people I know and interviewed them about their holiday plans, Christmas wishes and greetings for the community. The common theme has been a desire for renewed unity, peace and gratitude. I invite you to see and hear those messages.
I look forward to 2021, recovery from the pandemic and restoration of the way of life that seems so far behind us now. To be sure, that restoration will include enduring changes. We’ve learned to use technology for business meetings, shopping services and personal communications. Those new strategies will endure and continue to develop, shaping our community and country. There will be new faces in familiar places as a new generation steps forward to carry us into the future. There will be new and different opportunities for us to make good on our claim to be a “can-do” city. We are informed. We are involved. We are strong. We will prevail and thrive.
In the future, when we look back on Thanksgiving 2020, we will remember it as a day when gatherings were smaller, but the longing for reunion was deeper. As the years unfold and we return to a more normal routine, may we carry the memory of that longing and be even more thankful for those we love and the times we have together.
To you and yours, a very happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, happy holidays and Happy New Year.