Hello everyone and happy 2021! I hope all of you and your loved ones are staying safe, healthy, and out of harm’s way. With all of its challenges, I am sure few people are sad to see 2020 hit the road, myself included. This past year, however, has also provided me some insights and altered my perspective in various (mostly positive) ways. As many have, I have been afforded a substantial amount of family time I would not have otherwise had without a global pandemic. This significant and extended family time, while sometimes annoying to our kids and only occasionally irritating to my wife and I, has ultimately been a blessing (and will certainly be much more appreciated down the road), allowing us more “together” time than we could have possibly imagined. Instead of coming home from work and wondering how the kids actually somehow grew bigger in less than 12 hours, hearing a recap of everyone’s day, or hustling to make dinner or slip in a quick game before bed, I am here with my kids around the clock, 24/7. While absence may make the heart grow fonder, I also know this togetherness has brought us closer and we will miss it dearly (at least I will, maybe not the kids) once it is gone and things start to hopefully return to “normal,” or at least some variation of it.
Despite the morbid nature of a pandemic, it has supplied me with a clearer perspective on life, realizing how precious each day and each moment is, and to cherish it. Things that had seemed so important and monumental have suddenly become trivial. My family’s and friends’ health and safety have become paramount, taking center stage. I have a newfound appreciation for our health care workers – the nurses, doctors, paramedics, caregivers, and all health practitioners – who have abruptly placed their own lives on the line to protect all of us. We cannot thank them enough for their service. We have all collectively realized the importance of our “essential,” frontline workers – teachers (thanks Baby!), police and fire fighters, couriers, grocery store employees, transportation personnel, tradesmen and women, our farmers and food producers, and those working in the utilities sector (water, electricity). Their commitment to protecting us, teaching our children, keeping us fed, getting us around, and maintaining our homes has been unwavering and a model of courage.
Here in the United States, in the wake of the George Floyd killing, we witnessed demonstrations and protests clamoring for equal rights and an end to police brutality and institutional racism. We faced the harsh reality that this nation may not actually be the sterling template of democracy, freedom, and “all men [and women] are created equal” it has so consistently and vehemently asserted itself to be. The year 2020 exposed our cracks and our flaws and let the world know that we still have much work to do to reach the ideal place we want this country to be. I always have and I always will believe that America is special and a leader by example, but we need to start coming together as a people and deeply consider how we can fix what is broken. In the face of a contentious presidential election, I think we have forgotten that we are all Americans, and we have a responsibility and an obligation to start listening to those we may not agree with, who may not look or talk like us, and who may not share the same perspective. We should recognize that many of us hold sacred the same elements – love of family and friends, good health, the pursuit of happiness, economic and occupational stability, time to “play” and enjoy life, travel, and pride in who we are and what our nation stands for. The pandemic has shown us what we can do when we stick together, how “ordinary” people become everyday heroes, and how strong we are when we embrace our differences and respect each other for who we are: imperfect, unique, and fallible human beings. But we are also extraordinary when we come together to fight this pandemic and support each other against injustice and discrimination.
In the face of all this, it seems rather inconsequential, frivolous, and tone-deaf to hawk a new book or promote a refashioned website. But as I stated once before, I am a writer who wants to entertain, who wants to tell a compelling story. If I can distract you, if only for a short time, while we start to address all of the serious problems we need to sort out, both on a national and global stage, then I have accomplished my goal. I do not write for fame or money, or bend my narratives to what is selling right at this minute. I can only dream of writing as a profession, but for now it is my “side gig,” my passion, and my midnight muse, and that will have to do. If I can make you laugh, cry (probably could use less of that), catch your breath in your throat, or make you look over your shoulder to see if someone is there, I have done my job. If my passion ever ebbs, the writing becomes a chore, or the stories no longer entertain, then I will know it is time to put down the pen.
Thank you for sticking with me through this rambling post and through the past few years as I have struggled to complete the trilogy – your support and encouragement has been my fuel, and I would not have made it this far without it. And so now, finally, at long last . . . Book III: The Resistance is here, and the trilogy is complete. I hope you enjoy it and the revamped website (huge shout-out to my website designer Jake!).
Take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and each other. Let’s get after 2021 together!