Good riddance to 2020. The year will go down as the one that everyone was united in wanting to forget. 2021 offers hope and although there is light at the end of the tunnel, we are not sure how long the tunnel is before we leave the darkness behind.
With light there is optimism and with optimism there is hope of a better future. We long for the tunnel to end and the new spring to arrive.
In the meantime, we remain stranded in the tunnel and must play our part in making it as smooth a journey as possible, not only for ourselves, but for all who are helping us on our journey. While shielding a close friend, the fear of the pandemic remains, and we bunker down to protect ourselves, let alone the NHS and others. It is a constant and unnerving worry that someone, anyone, even me, could bring the virus into the home allowing it to circulate and latch onto those unprepared or not strong enough to deal with it.
The pandemic spread is relentless. In Lockdown 1 we knew very few people who had the virus, but now in Lockdown 3 there are so many more catching Covid 19 and being laid up. This time it feels very close to home, frighteningly knocking at every door waiting to creep in and take root. The only Passover criteria is the vaccine – but for most of us, this is not yet available.
We long for normality to return. Events in the United States are far from normal with Trumpism turning to over inflated narcissism, leading to riotous violence by incited thugs, challenging the very foundations of our democratic systems. The bastions of our normal life are being pulled from underneath us from a number of sources and we are feeling threatened, unsteady and vulnerable.
At the start of 2021 there are almost 2 million Covid 19 deaths around the world, and nearly 80,000 in the UK. I dare say in times to come, future family historians will look back to see how their family members were impacted by the pandemic. It would be interesting to see how these, yet unborn, historians will comment on these miserable times. Will we simply be statistics, or will we be remembered as people living in extraordinary times?
As week 1 of the new year comes to an end, we long for the light but dare not yet venture out to look for those faint rays that may just be visible in the distance.