Merry Christmas

[Gunnar]

Let me be the first to wish everyone on MDB a merry Christmas.

My Christmas joy is somewhat dampened as my wife tested positive for COVID for the second time in her life last Thursday. So far, she is the only one in the family who tested positive this time. One of my daughters had mild COVID-like symptoms, which prompted her and the rest of us to get tested. Yet only my wife tested positive, though her symptoms were even milder than my daughter's. They were no worse that the mild allergy symptoms she frequently has. I, so far, have had no symptoms at all, and my daughter's already mild symptoms, at worst, have all but disappeared already. We have all had all five of the so far available COVID shots, so I don't anticipate any of us getting seriously ill, but it is still disappointing that we had to, out of caution, skip the Christmas get together we had planned with my brother and his family.

It's no real tragedy, though. We are otherwise in good health.

ETA: According to our local NBC affiliate news channel, Santa and his reindeer were just now sighted and photographed by NORAD, flying over Arizona.

[canpakes]

Merry Christmas, Gunnar (and to all of the denizens of DiscussMormonism)!

And, here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for your gang!

[Jersey Girl]

Merry Christmas my forever friend! I'm sorry to hear about Mrs. Gunnar having C19 again. But good that no one else has tested positive and you are together. That is what matters most. Having read some of my Facebook friends comments today, I see many are awaiting delivery of C'mas items they ordered for gifts but in all cases they say "we'll survive it just fine" or they are dealing with accumulations of snow and instead of grumbling, they're playing in it! With the troubling news we see each day I think that most of us (if we didn't know already) have learned to be content with what (and who) we have for most of us really do have an abundance and so much to be thankful for in our lives, and what seemed of importance three years ago no longer is.

And the greatest of these is love.

Love,
Jersey Girl
<3

*see how I wait up for you? If Gunnar is on, all is well in my world.

[Gunnar]

And the greatest of these is love.

Love,
Jersey Girl

What rational human being could seriously argue against that sentiment? It is a terrible tragedy how many people in this world (especially despots and oligarchs, such as Putin and Trump) seem totally incapable of realizing how much happier they would be if they could just let go of their lust for unlimited power and wealth and hatred of others not like themselves and be loving and charitable towards their fellow humans.

[Some Schmo]

Happy holidays, Gunnar!

Hope you all have a great time.

[Jersey Girl]

And the greatest of these is love.

Love,
Jersey Girl

What rational human being could seriously argue against that sentiment? It is a terrible tragedy how many people in this world (especially despots and oligarchs, such as Putin and Trump) seem totally incapable of realizing how much happier they would be if they could just let go of their lust for unlimited power and wealth and hatred of others not like themselves and be loving and charitable towards their fellow humans.

I agree 100% with that, Gunnar. Trump could've been the super hero of the pandemic. Instead he chose to hide it because he didn't want to smudge his reputation and in the process he actually killed it. Now he's out there hawking cartoon images of himself for grift. Putin is horrid person. He's another one who could've elevated his own country and his standing but no, he put his ego first. Another reputation killed off on a global scale. How unwise and all those wasted assets, infrastructure, and human life sacrificed in the process!

And then we have our elected officials. Some who are willing to work and others who are playing power tripping games with our country's future so not a lot gets accomplished while our citizens pay them to achieve nothing on our behalf.

In any case, we can do what is possible to do within our own families, friendships, and communities. Reach out, be boots on the ground, extend a hand and remember to greet folks with a smile. Our politicians aren't going to improve our circumstances. It's up to us to do it ourselves. And I believe we can do that.

[Moksha]

[Jersey Girl]

Gunnar signs of life, please.