By Ralphine Major

During the sixties, seventies, eighties, and even the nineties, 2020 seemed so far on the horizon.  Two thousand twenty and the start of a new decade.  Unbelievable!

Changing to a new calendar gave pause to take another look back at 2019.  It was a year marked by the loss of so many friends and family.  For our family, it was a milestone year as well.  It was the 25th anniversary of our father’s death.  He never read any of my 400 plus Focus columns.  He never saw any of our “Piddle Diddle, the Widdle Penguin” books written in his memory.  During those years, time and memories have become two of our best friends.  Much has changed in our world since then especially after the 9-11 tragedy that struck our nation.

The promise of a new year brings hope.  My favorite scripture to face the year with are Paul’s words found in Philippians 3:13:  “ . . . but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” (KJV).  As a former pastor so often said, “Life is a vapor.”  So true.  Enjoy every day of 2020, and may God’s blessings be many.