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[Pretty Little Flower]

This morning, I was speaking with a financial advisor for my father, and he shared with me that he had also lost a parent, his mother, who was infected with COVID in the early days of the pandemic. Her health went downhill so rapidly that he did not even have a chance to say goodbye to her, and of course he could not visit her, so she died alone, and likely afraid, in a Boston hospital surrounded by others who were dying alone and afraid. I expressed condolences and he mentioned that it has been such a difficult year for so many. I responded, “This year has been difficult?” He seemed taken aback by the question so I explained that, while there have certainly been challenges, the year has also been enriching and satisfying. For some, the pandemic disruptions have actually lowered their stress levels. I suggested he focus on the extent to which the pandemic has forced us to reexamine inefficient practices that had previously wasted our time. And also to enjoy the way the pandemic has contributed to the destruction of meaningless institutionalized rituals. In fact, I said, in some ways, it seems like the only real loss this year is travel. He did not come right out and say it, but I’m pretty certain he agreed, and that he appreciated my positivity and glass-is-half-full attitude.