It was a funny kind of Christmas. My partner wasn’t feeling super well, so we stayed home. Of course we are worried, though it seems to be just an allergy-related sinus problem. Happens every year. Nevertheless, she’ll get tested tomorrow for COVID.

Maise the Dog and I went for a walk around the neighborhood in the middle of the afternoon. It was crazy warm, and as a result, people had their front doors standing open, or were hanging out on their decks and in their yards. The sound of happy laughter and the smell of baking and of barbecue grills filled the air.

Neighbors were chatting to each other across the street about who was visiting, or who wasn’t because of COVID, or what gatherings and planned trips had been cancelled. There were lots of folks out for a stroll, enjoying the warmth and sunshine, greeting each other with a smile and a wave or stopping to chat for a moment. The height of the afternoon, though, was a young family—mom, dad, and a couple of kids—walking and laughing around the neighborhood in their Christmas pajamas carrying a big shopping bag. Evidently they were delivering little Christmas gifts to friends. They were having such a great time with each other. It was wonderful!

2021 has not been kind to any of us, but for some reason, this year I feel more in the spirit of Christmas than I have in the past decade or two.

May the joy of the season be with all my readers, and may 2022 be peaceful and kind to us all.