I'm glad to be alive, how about you? Granted its been an exceptionally traumatic year and I think most everyone will be glad to put 2020 in the rearview mirror. The Associated Press reports that 2020 is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic. But it's Christmastime (or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or Diwali among other holidays celebrated around this time of the year) and despite Colorado's level Red Covid Restrictions the stores in my area are packed (if the parking lots are any indication). People seem to be making up for the rest of the year in an overabundance of Holiday cheer. My wife and I have noticed that almost every house in our neighborhood is decked out with holiday lights and decorations this year. Normally there are lots of houses lit up but this year its noticeably more. As usual, we like to drive around upon a snowy evening and look at all the beautiful light displays and like last year I've put together a short video of some of our favorites to share with you.
I live in a solidly middle-class neighborhood and sometimes we head to some higher-end areas that often feature some extravagant light displays this time of year. Not so much in 2020, and at first we were at somewhat of a loss to explain why some of these very affluent neighborhoods were relatively dark this holiday season. The only thing we could come up with is that COVID has put a damper on holiday parties and celebrations and the homeowners couldn't justify the time and expense (in past years some of these displays were obviously professionally done) when they wouldn't be hosting the usual family and business get-togethers.
Most of the light displays in the video this year come from neighborhoods much like mine though we did also make a jaunt to the town of Golden, Colorado to stroll their beautiful river walk which was decked out beautifully. 'Golden City' served as the capital of the Territory of Colorado from 1862 to 1867. In 1867, the territorial capital was moved about 12 miles east to 'Denver City'. Golden has a nice downtown area along Washington Avenue that is fun to stroll when December weather allows, as it did earlier this week, some relatively balmy evenings with afternoon temps in the 60's.
2021 will soon be upon us, and like the incoming Presidential administration, is already hamstrung by unrealistic expectations. All I want is to stay safe and healthy long enough to roll up my sleeve for the much anticipated vaccine. It may be closer to 2022 than to the start of the year when that finally happens for us normal Americans and patience is clearly not an American trait. Still, I'm cautiously optimistic that 2021 won't set the record for American deaths like its cousin 2020 has. Sadly, there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of our friends, family members, and acquaintances who will still die in the new year before we presume to have the great Pandemic behind us. That ubiquitous symbol of 2020, the facemask, won't be disappearing anytime soon, and some of my friends who to this day still contend COVID is a hoax will be hard pressed to maintain that charade.
Still, this time of the year offers Hope. Defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, Hope has it's hands full going into the New Year so perhaps we can come together in this time of 'Good will toward Men' and ALL do our part to help Hope have a chance. Stay safe, and from my house to yours have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday...
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