January 2022

OUt with the horrible and in with the good?

Happy New Year to every one who celebrates in the month of Janus, the twin-faced God of classical mythology. The Romans celebrated the new year on the last day of December (10th month classical calendar) and on first of January (1st month of same.) Janus possessed one face that looked ahead to the future and another on the back of his head looking toward the past. An appropriate deity for the changing of the year. Unfortunately, there is not that much in 2021 that anyone would want to look back at; between COVID-19 and natural disasters 2021 was not a good year, especially for those like me who lost close relatives in that year.

I wish I could say that my loss was not due to incompetence and pride on the part of a regional hospital, but I can't. If my mother had been transferred to a larger hospital within a day of her collapse she would still be here, especially as she required immediate heart surgery and the regional hospital did not possess a surgeon. By the time they recognized that they were not up to the job and transferred her, the infection and heart damage were too advanced for a truly successful operation. She tried to hold on, but the complications were too many and even a Viking like my mother could not conquer as much damage as she bore.

It was not a happy or merry Christmas for my family this year without my mother's vitality and presence in the house. I know COVID and natural disasters have done to many what heart disease and staph infection did to my mother. My heart is with all of you who lost loved ones in 2021. Perhaps this year will be a time of healing, for all of us, and a turning of the tide.