Here we are, looking forward to the “Eve” of a New Year.

Photo courtesy of Restly Alyssis Photography (Lynndee’s niece who is based in GenSan, Philippines)

For most of us, it will truly be a special moment to say goodbye to the year that was, one which the majority of us would truly wish hadn’t been! Nonetheless it will certainly go down in the books as a historic year, a pandemic year, a repeat of the 1918 year of the Spanish Flu.

So 2020 will forever be known as the year of Covid-19. Caused by different virus, this novel disease is more a chronic acute pneumonia. Unfortunately, we may still have another year of Covid-19 to deal with for the Spanish Flu pandemic lasted through 1919. So if patience truly is a virtue, here’s to being virtuous!

Since I got Lynndee here to the U.S., we’ve tried to take special vacations each year. I’ve made it a point to try and introduce her to her new country. Such trips have been to Georgia (more then once!), Washington, DC, Baltimore, Maryland and the nearby Civil War battlefield of Antietam, and most special of all, a Christmas in New York City.

We’ve also made a couple of trips back to her home country, the Philippines, which in itself included a road trip. But our yearly attempt at road-tripping was interrupted this year due to the pandemic. We did, however, manage to squeeze in a short visit to a nearby famous local landmark of pure, natural beauty, Mount Mitchell.

But most of this year has been about surviving. Our son Yogi has unfortunately had to spend his senior year in high school on the computer.

As for me an Lynndee, we’ve had to celebrate birthdays and holidays in a quarantined manner, away from family and friends, and we’ve not eaten out in a restaurant since February.

As for me, I’m looking forward to a haircut for it’s also been February since I’ve had one and I’m looking pretty ragged!

So, yes, we’re definitely looking forward to a New Year, a year of change and hopes for a return to a semblance of normality, though heaven knows what a new normal may entail.

And as for all of you who are still wondering about what was in that huge package Christmas gift that Lynndee wrapped up for me, it will be awhile before I can reveal the mystery of that. When I do, you will understand.

I do, however, want to take this moment to wish all of you faithful followers a very safe and Happy New Year. Until later, y’all…see you next year!