Like the rest of the world, I am gladly saying goodbye to 2020 and on this third day of 2021, am looking ahead hopefully to an end to the heartrending COVID deaths. About 350,000 people in the U.S. began 2020 without any knowledge that they would succumb before the end of the year to the deadliest virus since 1918. How many more people…or me…have heralded the start of 2021 but will be infected and be unable to come back from it? I think about that. Sometimes I ask myself what I would want to say to my husband, to my kids, to my friends now just in case I become a statistic. I don’t think we want to dwell in fear, but I do think we are wise to treasure each day with our loved ones.

My husband’s grandmother has remained healthy so far.  She is halfway to her 106th birthday in June and one of the few people still alive who was alive during the 1918 pandemic. We are doing everything we can to keep her safe. I do visit her but mostly write her weekly letters. I am so careful to stay away if there is any chance that someone I know has been exposed. So far, though there have been some close calls, our family members and our employees have all stayed COVID free.

Besides the health of family and friends, I am so grateful for the health of our business. We are fortunate that we have been able to print COVID signage. While the business was hurt in 2020, in comparison to many other industries, we have been fortunate. I count my blessings and thank God for sustaining us.

God willing, I have plans this year. I want to get back to the book rewrite that I have been avoiding. Also, someday we will sell the business and move on to a different chapter in our lives. Who knows; this could be the year. I want to figure out how to best support my youngest son who in a “good” year struggles with anxiety and in this pandemic, it is off the charts, with a serious toll on him physically. I would like to continue to work on relationships with all my family members and make each moment count. And lastly, I plan to lay off the holiday treats and get back to healthier fare. Exercise? Maybe.

Happy New Year to all and best wishes for 2021.