The dawn of the first day of 2021 was tinted with a rosy glow and full of promise. The weather was benign with a chill -- but no ferocity. We'd had a week of awful rain and wind, so this respite was welcome.
Our Christmas had been a rather quiet affair, with only Alex's mother here with us. Christmas Eve we'd had a leg of lamb from the farmer who rents our islands. It was delicious. Lots of presents from family and neighbours but no visits. Christmas Day I cooked my half-price turkey which I had soaked in brine for several hours. It was the best turkey ever. I am now a complete convert to brining.
We'd seen our nephew Cormac before Christmas and again with his girlfriend Louise on Stephen's Day outside at Ross House where they'd been helping his grandmother with some gardening chores. Such a nice young man and woman. No one can now go inside her house as she is very vulnerable.
Alex and I had gone walking on the Greenway in Mulranny in a bitter cold gale that day. We thought it would be protected but it wasn't.
Little did we know that on the morning of January 2 we'd be hearing that several friends had tested positive for Covid-19. I knew of four cases among acquaintances in England but these are the first known to me personally in Ireland. The pandemic has exploded with all the gatherings for the holidays. God help us in the days to come. It was certainly the strangest year of our lives.
Over the horizon shortly after 9 am Jan 1
Mid-day on the 30th Jan
Snow-capped Holy Mountain on New Year's Eve, Jan 31
All the rest are from Jan 2 at the top of our land
On December 8, I noted that 15MM people in America had confirmed Covid-19. Just 3 weeks later it's 20MM contracted and almost 350,000 dead. The projections right now for where the world will be in April are dire. Almost 3 million expected to have died of Covid by 1 April 2021 with the US accounting for more than 500k.
So on the eve of New Year's Eve, I contemplate the dread. I've been wishing everyone a much improved 2021, but I'm not so certain.
It's been some week. The US Supreme court has turned down Texas' bid to overturn the election results in four states, the US has a massive coronavirus outbreak clocking up 1.5 million new cases (16.5M total) and 10.5 thousand deaths (305K total) in just the last 5 days, the Pfizer mRNA vaccine got FDA Emergency Use Authorization and began shipping, and the Brexit talks broke down.
Oh, and Biden-Harris were named Time Person of the Year.
Crazy world! My elves on the shelf have been up to mischief. At least it's something to do.
The US has blown past the 15 million confirmed coronavirus cases in a flash. With 290,000 deaths and more than 200,000 new cases daily demonstrating the post-Thanksgiving crush, the run-up to Christmas is going to be devastating for so many families. And yet, the superspreader in chief throws tantrums and begs for states to overturn the election. I am ashamed. Saddened and ashamed.
Globally, 68 million confirmed cases and 1.5 million deaths set the stage for the close of a horrible year. But today, the first of the vaccines began to be distributed outside of clinical trials. The first person to get vaccinated in Ireland was an 80 yo woman in the North. Hope is on the way.
Winter has arrived and the elves are creating mischief on the shelves.
It's been a tough year. Since January, we've been stressing about Covid-19, the US government, elections, and family. I've been having such a hard time concentrating and I'm not the only one. People all over are reporting that their creativity has suffered this year. So many creative people -- musicians and artists in particular -- have no outlet and no income this year, so I shouldn't complain. We're reasonably comfortable in retirement, so at least we don't have that worry.
In the past couple of weeks, while the election results trickled in and Trump tried to stage a coup, I distracted myself by taking up my 'joy of sailing project'. Over the years, I had written many nature essays about things we'd seen and experienced while crossing oceans and living next to or on the sea. I have now collected all those essays and a few poems and I'm now editing them into a book with the working title 'Keeping Watch for Miracles'. The idea is that this is about more than sailing and perhaps nature will connect with more people.
I hope to publish it on Amazon and promote it if people think it's worth reading. Wish me luck. Here's a current list of chapters...
I know there is much to be fretful about, especially for Americans this year. But today, let us count our blessings:
We are alive and healthy and have not lost any loved ones.
We have chosen a new leader to restore world order.
We have a US federal government forming that reflects how we all look.
We have not suffered a massive economic breakdown.
We will soon be vaccinated against this scourge.
This Thanksgiving and most likely Christmas will be different from what we've been used to. Perhaps the alterations will not be so painful. Perhaps we will find ways to make it even better. As long as we can share with loved ones in some way, perhaps we will make it through stronger, wiser and happier, too. Happy Thanksgiving USA and Americans all around the world!
As coronavirus cases close in on 13,000,000 in the US, millions of Americans have been taking to the roads and the skies for Thanksgiving. Traditionally, the highest travel volume period of the year, pandemic concerns have not deterred many even when Fauci implored people to stay home. Hospitalizations and deaths from the highly contagious virus are skyrocketing and the National Guard has been called in in some places to help carry away the dead. I have no doubt that the surge in cases is a direct result of people congregating at rallies held by the Superspreader-in-Chief without masks or distancing precautions just before the election.
Today, Wednesday, millions of Americans will travel for Thanksgiving despite some of the worst daily COVID-19 figures since the pandemic began. According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States reported 2,146 deaths on Tuesday — the highest daily death total since May and higher than any other country. The nation also reported 172,935 new coronavirus infections, and the number of hospitalizations hit a new record of 88,080. The number of deaths per 100,000 population now stands at 802, among the highest in the world.
Millions are expected to ignore holiday guidelines against travel this week, and experts have warned that could cause infection numbers to explode. Jonathan Reiner, CNN medical analyst, has predicted that Thanksgiving could become “the mother of all superspreader events.” We'll see in 2-3 weeks' time.
As US Tops 12 Million Coronavirus Cases, Air Travel Is Busiest Since March | TODAY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5PDe25qYsw
