Don’t Let The Door Hit You 2020
There is little doubt that 2020 was a bad year. Horrific in so many ways. So if there was ever a time to throw out the old and welcome the new, 2021 is the year to do that. The bar has been set very low so 2021 already feels pretty good. I won’t get into why 2020 was a terrible, horrible very bad year. Who wants to go down that road again. The New Year is here and like all things, change is upon us. There is indeed light at the end of this tunnel of darkness. Vaccines will make it possible to bring this pandemic to a halt. But we all must do our part and get our shot. Then and only then will we reach what everyone calls herd immunity. I imagine there were some who didn’t want to take the polio vaccine or the smallpox vaccine, and so on and so forth. I guess that is a choice, albeit a selfish and foolish one. Sometimes we do things for the greater good. And I suppose some can’t respect that. Well, okay, good luck with that. Takes all kinds I guess. I prefer to save lives and help my fellow human beings. I will put my faith in science and God. I will get my shot when my time comes. I will do my part to protect the herd.
2021 is certainly going to be a year of change. We have already transitioned our print magazine to our online version. This was made possible with the support of many of our advertisers, our readers and our environmental and community partners who are promoting our free online subscriptions. It’s rewarding to see the relationships we have built during the past 24 years coming to our side in these tough times. At some point in 2021 we will make the decision on whether or not to put out a print version again. For now, enjoy this online edition and many of the same writers and advertisers you have become accustomed to over the years. As an old print publisher for more than 40 years now, having an online magazine is a new adventure for me. I thought I was too old to learn some new tricks but my youthful web master is helping me along like a boy scout helps an old man across the street. We are offering free monthly subscriptions to anyone who signs up on our website or who emails us their email so we can send them their subscription link each month. And so far the subscriptions are coming in at a very healthy clip. Our print readers are following us online thank goodness and our community partners are sending out our free monthly subscription notices along with their monthly newsletters. We are forever grateful for their partnerships.
I have a good feeling about 2021. How about you? I feel things could really turn around for people and the planet. There’s a new sheriff in town and that bodes well for all us eco-types and old tree-huggers. It’s so hard to speak of what the past year has meant for so many. I feel like a shroud has been lifted and a new hope is born. Maybe the children in Washington can play well together and learn to share. When all else is lost, hope is all that remains. I am hoping for less turmoil, less conflict and less suffering. It’s amazing how strong human beings can be when working together. Things get done, get built and get better for all. Is it too early to be naïve and idealistic about the New Year? I hope not. Like I said before, 2021 has arrived with the bar set low. So the only way to go is up. I think I just heard a collective sigh of relief across the country. Someone just opened up indoor dining again!
Happy New Year,
J.B. Lester; Publisher