Although the last year has been difficult for everyone, we feel truly blessed to have been impacted less harshly than so many.  With remote work arrangements we have avoided the financial devastation that has hurt so many families, both here and around the world.

I have learned how truly introverted I am.  Staying home has been much less of a hardship for me than for so many of my friends, neighbors, family members. It has been nice to not always be racing from one thing to another, but I do wish that we, as a society, had not paid such a high price for the flexibility of online meetings.

My teen son did contract COVID but had few if any symptoms and didn’t infect anyone else in our home.  My extended family hasn’t been infected although a number of friends have been ill.  Thankfully none had a serious case and they are now enjoying immunity from it and the ensuing freedom to mix with others.

Being physically separate from others has seriously impacted the sense of community here, and I sense it will be difficult to get that back.  The political divides that have become deep, and the different outlooks on COVID and societal restrictions, have pervaded too many things.

Technology has enabled the teens in our home to connect with friends they don’t see in person, and as infection rates here eased we have been able to do a little bit of outdoor socializing.

[submitted on 4/8/2021]