FINGERS CROSSED

2020 was tough. It has justifiably become our first numeric cuss word. 

For my family 2020 began a few weeks early when we lost my grandson just before Christmas.

He was a beautiful young man who made everybody smile, but he was experimenting. A huge risk took him away from his life and from us. 

Then, COVID came along when we needed each other the most. Navigating our loss during a pandemic has been really hard. But, we made it through a year. We miss him—especially his mom and sister who lived with his love, laughter, and antics daily.

I know ours is not the only story of loss out there. Some of you lost loved ones last year too. Some of you have lost acquaintances, people you work with, the lady down the hall who always has a smile for you, the old guy raking his yard who changes your perspective with a story, the homeless man you buy coffee for, your friend on chemo, your pet who has been part of the family forever. . . 

It’s all loss and it all sucks and I’m sorry. I know how painful it can be. 

These days, many of us have been working from home.

If you have school-age kids, you are probably leaning heavily on your patience and multi-tasking skills. You definitely deserve a raise. 

If you live alone you might feel as though you’re disappearing from the minds of the people you used to spend time with. Try not to tell yourself that story. Your friends haven’t forgotten you. They’ve just temporarily lost the connection. 

Many of my friends are extroverts. I can only imagine how hard staying home has been for them. I think being an introvert has made it a little easier for me. I’m thankful for my writing. Because I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s been a solid link to normalcy.  

The last year has given me a brand-new mystery series about Minnie Chance, a nun whose life is changing and, as it does, she discovers that the world is not a very safe place. I hope you’ll join Minnie (Dangerous Habit released June 2021) as she begins to find herself—stumbling into one mystery after another. 

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a better year—for all of us. But it’s hard to type with my fingers crossed, so I was hoping you’d cross your fingers too. And maybe your toes. 

Not your eyes. That won’t help anyone. 

Be well. 

And remember, you are loved and valued more than you know. 

Please keep reading.