Columns

There are many victims of the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 — locally, across our nation and globally as well. Just in Sonoma County, there are several kinds of victims, and not all are humans. First, we have had 20 COVID-19 fatalities and over 2,000 positive infections. Thousands of local workers have become unemployed or have lost their jobs. Our Latinx population has suffered by extra measure. Individual businesses and our general economy are being victimized by the enforced closure under public health safety rules. But maybe the most perilous victims are our school children, after only the disease’s deaths.

Approaching the one-year mark since the devastating October fires, I am practicing gratitude. Only last week did I have the heart to venture back to Deer Trail Road.

The days are long and warm, but many of us are anything but lazy. We are in our yards tackling our outdoor honey-do lists. We are refinishing our decks, painting our homes and taming our yards. After painting the house, sanding the deck, or trimming back the landscaping it would be convenient to sweep or pour the mess into the storm drain (or gutter). The problem is that everything that enters the storm drain eventually flows into our creeks untreated.

Later this month, on April 16, the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes in journalism, arts and letters will be handed out and we wanted to give you the “scoop” on the announcement of the winners. This newspaper, again, will not be part of the finalists’ list.

Last week my husband and I celebrated a milestone; we have now been married for 21 years. To commemorate the occasion, we went out to an early dinner, bought a set of towels for our bathroom (and retired the old ones to the garage) and looked at our wedding album.

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year—grateful for our blessings lest we take what we have for granted rather than count them each day. Here's some holiday movies that always make for a seasonal uplift.