TGIF 12/18/20

'Twas a week before Christmas and all through the house, cats are sleeping, lights are blinking, we can finally see snow on the ground when we look out the window.

Presents are being wrapped (with no target date for being opened), things that were ordered weeks ago might get here by the end of the year (or not).

The annual gift-snack-making has happened (and hopefully we won't everything before we see people), cards have been sent and are being received - and none of this rhymes with house, does it? 

And you know what? Who cares if it rhymes or not? 

We are among the fortunate, and grateful to be. We're healthy, our friends and families are healthy, and we're working to keep it that way.

We're thankful for the frontline workers who are giving so much, seeing so much, dealing with so much, and sacrificing so much. 

We're thankful for essential workers, the people who are keeping the grocery stores and gas stations and drug stores and doctor's offices and veterinarian's offices and post offices and tire stores and bird food stores open. 

We're thankful for the DPW and sanitation crews, the police and firefighters who are keeping us safe. We're thankful for the people who are providing meals to families, and seniors. And for the teachers, administrators, other school personnel, bus drivers and cafeteria workers who care about, and tend to our community's children.

We're thankful that we've had the opportunity and that we have the wherewithal to provide some support to local businesses, local charities, and local social service organizations during the pandemic. We wish we could do more - we always wish we could do more.

We are thankful for the scientists who developed the vaccines, the companies that manufacture them, the people who are moving them from point A to point B to point us, when it is our turn. And we are thankful for the people, including friends, who participated in the trials of the vaccines, who took a chance on everyone else's behalf.

We're thankful for our local leaders, who have done everything they can to maintain public health and promote local businesses, who have let data dictate their decisions, who have asked us to do what's right, who have been open with us, who have cried alongside us when community members, our neighbors, were lost.

Today is the last day of Hanukkah; it's a week before Christmas; 8 days until Kwanzaa; five days before Festivus. 

However you celebrate, whatever you celebrate, whenever you celebrate, and even if you don't, warm wishes to you and yours. 

TGIF, everyone.