“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Happy New Year, beautiful people!  I don’t believe there is a person among us who is not happy to say goodbye to 2020.  However, I feel it is important to carry with us the lessons from the past year.  Mom always said, “Count your blessings, life can change overnight.”  I have always tried to count my blessings, but now more than ever.  The past year has reminded me of how important it is to pay extra attention to the remarkable people in my life, as well as all the many marvelous details of which I have been graciously blessed.  Most importantly, to hold tight to those I love.  Life is so precious and COVID has also reminded me how quickly it can be gone.

While 2020 is now part of history, I do not believe 2021 is going to be all ‘cake and ice cream.’  Mask-wearing and social distancing will remain our good friends and patience will be required for a while longer.  It is going to take time to get back to normal, but we will get there.  

“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest.  We must learn to sail in high winds. ~ Aristotle Onassis

“So many books, so little time.” ~ Frank Zappa

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is a favorite of mine.  I give myself permission to be lazy, not cook, and to read and read and read. A Santa-helper named Mike brought me a wonderful book for Christmas.  I devoured it in two days.  Only because my eyes became tired did it take two days.  For anyone who is interested in France, the lives of the French after the war, and the Holocaust, this is certainly a must-read book.  It is on my shelf with other books I consider to be ‘The Best.’

The following is part of a review written by, Lin­da F. Burghardt a New York-based jour­nal­ist. (See note at the end of this post.) 

“Filled with a com­plex mix­ture of aching sad­ness and abun­dant joy, A Fifty-Year Silence fol­lows the author’s very per­son­al jour­ney across two con­ti­nents and three gen­er­a­tions. Mouil­lot is the grand­child of Holo­caust sur­vivors, and she describes this fact of her life in sim­ple yet heart­break­ing words: ​“I’d grown up in a uni­verse that revolved around an unspo­ken max­im: every­thing can fall apart.”   

“Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” ~ Langston Hughes

I also find these quiet days to be perfect for dreaming.  Thinking of things I would like to do or places to visit once COVID is out of town.  Many of us are eager to be with family and friends.  To once again enjoy those warm hugs and sweet kisses.  Others are keen to travel and complete canceled plans, which were made at a time that seems like ages ago.

And, there are those who want to learn new skills, such as cooking, painting, or photography.  To register and participate in classes, make new like-minded acquaintances,  all while learning something which is fun and interesting.  These are a few ordinary things we have all enjoyed so many times and perhaps taken for granted. I know have.

“I close my eyes to old ends. And open my heart to new beginnings.” ~ Nick Frederickson

Dear friends, know I wish you and yours a spectacular New Year. 

Most of all I wish you health, happiness, love, and peace.

And . . .

May the angels walk beside you every step of your journey, in 2021 and always.

“Hope Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering ‘it will be happier’…” ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Amour,

Sandra

Images:  via Tumblr

Note:  Lin­da F. Burghardt is a New York-based jour­nal­ist and author who has con­tributed com­men­tary, break­ing news, and fea­tures to major news­pa­pers across the U.S., in addi­tion to hav­ing three non-fic­tion books pub­lished. She writes fre­quent­ly on Jew­ish top­ics and is now serv­ing as Schol­ar-in-Res­i­dence at the Holo­caust Memo­r­i­al & Tol­er­ance Cen­ter of Nas­sau County.