Disaster. Disease. Death. Lost jobs. Crushed hopes. A nightmare. That doesn't even begin to summarize what the year 2020 has been for people around the world. But I turn to a phrase often used by Elie Wiesel: and yet . . .
And yet, if we are alive, if we have a place to sleep, if we have enough food, if we have love in our lives, then it's not too odd to close out the catastrophic year of 2020 by expressing gratitude. Although many Americans associate gratitude with November, tied to our Thanksgiving, surely gratitude is a worthy practice to observe every month—indeed, every day. So, in this blog at the end of a traumatic year, allow me to share some of the many things for which I am thankful:
Traveling with friends to one of the most beautiful places on earth: Antarctica
The unbounded joy of a dog, happy to be rescued, whose smiling eyes and desire to walk or to cuddle brings light to my life: Sugar
Recorded in a professional sound studio, I read each of the three Mitzvah books: A Dog Named Mitzvah; Mitzvah Gets Scared; Mazel Tov, Mitzvah! , which will soon become audio books
Reading in a theater, while videotaped by professionals, the children's picture book about my rascally cat: Daisy, Darn It!
Although the play “A Mitzvah for Daisy” has been rescheduled twice, we anticipate that it will be performed next October: here's hoping that the show will go on.
The astounding dedication of medical personnel, scientists, first responders, and essential workers during an overwhelming crisis: truly, we would be lost without you and your heroic work
The expectation that a vaccine will conquer the deadly virus currently ravaging the world: may that happen as soon as medically possible.
Once the pandemic has subsided, probably travel will safely resume: can't wait!
