Thanksgiving amid a year of loss

It’s been a year of loss, and that loss continues. But with Thanksgiving upon us, it still is time to look at what we’ve accomplished and what still needs to be done and why we are thankful for both.

We’ve lost 250,000 Americans this year to COVID-19, more than 1 million people worldwide, and yet, in eight months, I am thankful we have multiple vaccines in development, an incredibly fast pace.

We have new treatments that are saving lives, and we were much better prepared for this second surge than the first. Initial estimates were 2.5 million could die. I’m thankful it looks like we’ll avoid that future.

I found out one of my main local news outlets, the Lansing Star, will likely close by the end of the year. I’m sad to see it close as it’s been a treasure to the Lansing community. I’ve found myself sometimes waiting until midnight Friday for it to come out and read a story.

I’m thankful that Dan and Karen put this “paper” together more than 15 years ago. I can still remember their launch. You will be sorely missed, but I must be thankful for your many years of work.

I’m thankful for all the work the Lansing school, other districts and Cayuga Medical did to allow for in-person school and childcare. It’s been critical for our children and parents. I find myself tired of Zoom and Webex; just because I accept the reality of the situation doesn’t mean I have to like it.

I’m thankful new studies are showing schools are not a large infection point and should remain open, that kids show resistance to infection, and for our teachers and administrators who have been flexible as the research into this virus has presented new obstacles while challenging original theories on transmission. I’m also thankful for Cayuga Medical for the extra testing and increased hospital capacity that’s kept us safe and allowed us to return to work.

We’ve lost so much time with loved ones. Some have lost parents and friends to the virus or have lost them because of other health issues and then were not allowed to mourn their deaths. I had to watch the funeral of a friend of mine on YouTube. It was unnatural, a barrier erected between people in a moment of sadness.

There would be no recounting of happy memories to ease the grief, no funny stories, no embraces to ease the pain — just the glow of a computer screen. I’m thankful for the sadness, though, because their lives mattered and their absence is felt. I’m thankful with the end of the pandemic will come a new tether back to them, one of shared sadness and joy.

As case numbers climb, I see the loss of even more businesses — businesses that were staples of their communities for decades, closing or one lockdown away from closing. I’m thankful that more of our leaders are questioning the effectiveness of lockdowns based on science and are re-evaluating what can be done to keep these businesses open and my neighbors, friends and family employed and healthy.

Globally, I’m thankful that there is a growing peace in the Middle East with Israel and several Arab countries signing the Abraham Accords. I hope more will sign on to that agreement. I’m thankful that we have not entered any new military “incursions” in the past few years, and I hope we end some of our longstanding overseas engagements.

I’m thankful our Veterans Affairs systems have seen significant reforms and that we see we are not done yet in caring for our veterans. I’m thankful for decreasing drug prices, new trade agreements and for the move toward prison reform through the First Step Act that eliminated the “three strikes” life sentencing provision for some offenses and expanded judges’ discretion.

I’m thankful for increasing wages and that jobs are starting to be added back into the economy and that despite economic losses, retirements and pension funds have been resilient under durable stock markets. I’m thankful Tompkins County had the reserves set aside in prosperous years to weather this pandemic without layoffs or a large hike in the property tax rate.

I’m thankful that we had people locally like Dooley Kiefer, who saw the importance of paper ballots in securing the vote and that we as a county went that direction. I hope other counties and states see the importance of a voting system that people have confidence in.

I’m thankful that we are already gearing up for another election where if people want to be involved, they can be. All 14 County Legislature seats will be on the ballot along with many town board seats in 2021, and as always, your school boards have seats open and a budget in the spring.

While we’ll all feel the losses of 2020, a new day here and there is a lot to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving.