As we approach the holidays and the new year, I appreciate how awesomely each of you seem to have adapted to our new normal. It is remarkable as your adaptation to our global pandemic occurred despite a tumultuous back drop of increasing racial tension and extreme political divisiveness.
While we cannot yet share an in-person meal or group meeting, the weekly hugs (including bro-hugs) and fellowship, I realize that Tuesdays with you all (even virtually) have given me joy! Thank you for indulging my attempts at trivia, icebreakers, happy dollars and my baked in, public health bent. I feel uplifted after each of our meetings. I reflect each Tuesday afternoon and truly enjoy getting to know you differently. As I reflect on our speakers, I have really enjoyed each of them and see your engagement as do our presenters. In fact, several of the speakers have asked to join our club because of our esprit de corps.
The day after the “Christmas star”(hmm, may be a trivia question coming your way) was visible for the first time in 800 years, Akron Children’s has received its first batch of vaccines today, allowing us to start vaccinating about half of our team. I view this as hope and the beginning of getting back to normal. This is finally a light in our approach to contain and control this SARS –CoV-2, (Covid) virus. Even after 70% of Americans get vaccinated, it will be a while before we can stop “social” distancing and masking but we should celebrate this clear milestone towards normalcy.
Approaching the new year, let us continue to focus on our four way test: Is it the truth?, Is it fair to all concerned?, Will it build good-will and better friendships? and Is it beneficial to all concerned? Remember we don’t let what we can’t do get in the way of what we can do. Rotarians “can do” and do make the world better.
I am grateful for every one of you, may you have a wonderful Holiday season and here’s to a more “normal” and less eventful 2021.
Thank you all,
Rob
r Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
