A New Year

Some years have gotten off to a rocky start. For example, Oliver's lung collapsed on December 30, 2014. Starting the year with my toddler in the PICU wasn't exactly my favorite way to start a year. Similarly, my mom went to the ER on December 30, 2015, because of pleural effusion, which we soon learned was due to stage 4 ovarian cancer. Oliver's hospitalization had a much happier resolution whereas my mom's quality of life was very poor until she passed away in July. Then there have been years like 2020 when everything *seemed* normal on January 1, and then it proved to be a very unusual and difficult year. At the end of 2020 I kept hearing people say how excited they were about the arrival of a new year, but I wasn't sure what was in store for us in 2021. I falsely assumed that once a large percentage of people had been vaccinated, life would return to normal. Life isn't back to normal yet. The good news is that the newest strain (Omicron) thankfully is just like having a mild cold for most people, and in our area, life is pretty much back to normal. We only have to wear masks at medical facilities and inside the visitor centers of National Parks. I have gotten the sense this time around that people aren't assuming that everything will be better in 2022. I think more people have a "wait and see" attitude towards what this year will be like.

As I think about 2022 and the years beyond, I wonder how long it will be until life is TRULY back to normal in terms of supply chain issues, inflation, vaccination requirements, employee shortages, masks not being required, etc. As of today, you have to show ID and proof of vaccination to enter any establishment that serves food in Philadelphia. I had planned to take the kids back to Philadelphia this fall as we haven't been to all the museums and such yet, but I think I'll be postponing those plans in the hopes that this requirement will not become permanent. As a side note, I do not understand why it's considered racist to require proof of ID to vote when it's not considered racist to require ID to buy cigarettes, consume alcohol, fly on an airplane, drive a car, check into a hotel, enter a restaurant, etc. I would think election integrity would be something we could all agree upon - we don't want someone voting more than once in an election, deceased people voting, etc. I digress. I had planned to take the kids to one Broadway show per year. We didn't go to any in 2020 or 2021, but prior to that they saw Aladdin and Lion King. I'm hoping that proof of vaccination won't be required to attend Broadway shows for years on end as we're hoping at some point to take the kids to see Wicked, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Phantom of the Opera. I'm hoping to take the kids to see a production of Matilda in June in Delaware (not an official Broadway production so I don't believe proof of vaccination will be required). Even though Nadia loathes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and some of Roald Dahl's other works, she loves Matlida. I'm also thinking of buying tickets for all of us to see Stars on Ice in Pittsburgh on Mother's Day as that was another show that I wanted to take the kids to one time before they graduated.

Although I'm uncertain as to what will happen in 2022 with the economy or COVID, I do know Who holds the future in His hands. Some people have traditions for how they celebrate New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, but we really don't. Our church had a service last night, but the idea of a sermon at 11pm just didn't appeal to me. I was in bed at 9:15pm. Paul tried to stay up until midnight, but he fell asleep on the couch at 11:30. The kids all stayed up until midnight. It was the first time we let Oliver do that on New Year's Eve. Paul worked a shorter day than usual on Friday, and he stayed home on Saturday. I organized two closets on Friday. I really know how to party, ha ha! I also made a pie that Oliver had been wanting me to try that included cream cheese, chocolate pudding, caramel, whipped topping, and Oreos. Since we've had three close family members pass away in the last five years, I'm hoping to not need to attend a funeral for a family member in 2022. When things are less than ideal here on earth, it's helpful to remember that this world is not our home; we're just passing through. This too shall pass! We will not be wearing masks in Heaven!