by Howard Diamond
January 15, 2021
January is here and we are only a few days into 2021. Most of us have been affected one way or another by COVID19. Too many suffered, too many died. As of this writing, there are two vaccines and reasons for optimism that 2021 will be better. Yes, there will be changes, but will be good enough to excite our interests or make our lives better to put us in a positive frame of mind and put us on the long and winding road. No, neither of the Beatles roads, Abbey Road or the Long and Winding Road. Not the yellow brick road, from the Wizard Of Oz. It is our ROAD TO SUCCESS, Yes, our road to success!
Eight days and eight nights of Chanukah have now come and gone. Did Jewish people, get their gifts? Probably not, too much struggle in many places around the world. In many of the windows were pretty menorahs shining in the night. Many evenings, I smelled the latkes (potato pancakes) being fried on the stove. In the ovens were turkeys not quite ready to be carved. While the kids were playing dreidels and singing CHANUKAH SONGS in three different languages, English, Hebrew and Yiddush.
Was this a good year or a bad one? Success and failure is different for each of us, but we do strive for the former. Despite his valiant efforts, President Trump, lost the November elections. His successor, Joseph Biden was recently inaugurated on January 20, 2021 as the 46th President of the United States and right before, Senator Kamala Harris, from California was sworn in and became Vice-President. History was made as Sen. Harris was the first Black Asian Female Vice-President of the United States. Is this a good change or not? Only time will tell.
My preference is to stay in the positive and reflect. Although, I do not want the snow, I do my best to accept it as it falls from the sky, Deciding to gaze outside the open window and feel the snow as it glistens on my unprotected hand, sometimes reaching out to grab a few to make little snowmen for others to witness. Meanwhile, from another home, I heard a stereo playing CHRISTMAS CAROLS for anyone to sing, dance, or just and enjoy. Let’s not worry there are plenty of trees, all decorated with shiny ornaments in red and green, yellow and blue to make the night bright. While others are watching a variety of classic holiday movies like, “A Christmas Carol” or “Home Alone” or “Christmas Story”. Also, in the air I can smell turkeys roasting, hams glazing, biscuits frying and an array of desserts baking all emitting odors from the assortment of kitchens.
HOLIDAYS ARE HERE AND GONE
As December arrived most of us did cheer
Several faiths call this time the festival of lights
Getting ready for a celebration of a new year
To get through all the days and the nights
For some they spent these times alone
Little or no family or friends to spend the days
Many are lonely and basically have no one
Far away from people and the sun rays
Sleep and rest when we can
Taking a shower to start my day
Today I am going to feel like a man
Seizing each moment in every way
During last month most of us prepared for the year ahead
Not knowing when someone will be getting a call on their phone
While others want a safe place to live with a comfortable bed
Wishing for a healthier life for me and for you in the year 2021.
Awakening from my daydream of holidays past, this concludes with the last previous paragraph. Now, I am thinking or dreaming about some of my holidays with my significant other, Maureen who died on Friday June 12, 2015. On December 11, we would have been married 15 years. When I think about her here or somewhere else, I can only imagine how my life would be different. Sweetie, I love you, I miss you, and I still wish you were beside me here. SEE YOU IN THE NEWS BLOGS.