Thoughts for the Day, December 30, 2020: One more day

There is less than 28 hours left in the year. I can only say thank God.

In studying the Old Testament and the history of Europe and early America, I read many storys of plagues and pandemics and the tremendous cost they had on society at the time. I never thought much about them as it relates to my life in the 21st century. itWh all the advances of medicine that have occurred in the last 50 years, I sure never thought I would ever live during a pandemic . However, here we are 10 months into a world wide pandemic which is closing in on 83 million cases and 2 million deaths world wide, with almost 20 million cases and nearly 350,000 deaths in the U.S. Although there is a vaccine available, it will be 6-9 months before enough people have receieved the vaccine to stop the spread of the virus. In my life only 1968 compares to 2020 for a year that had such a major impact on our country. To 2020, I say good riddence.

I am watching with great interest the political battle going on in the Senate between Mitch McConnell and President Trump. It is putting many Republican Senators in a lose/lose position as they need to chose between supporting McConnell or Trump on the $2,000 stimulus payment and the Military Spending Bill. Who knows the impact this impasse will have on the Georgia senate run-off election which will occur next week. The balance of power of the Senate is at stake. If the Republicans lose control of the Senate, the Democrats will control both chambers of congress and the office of the president. The last time that happened, the Democrats were able to pass the Affordable Care Act. That must put the fear of God in the Republicans.

Ginger or Mary Ann? It was an important question for guys growing up in the 1960’s. Today we lost to Covid-19 Mary Ann of Gilligan’s Island played by Dawn Wells who passed away today.

We also lost Joe Louis Clark, the baseball bat and bullhorn-wielding principal whose unwavering commitment to his students and uncompromising disciplinary methods inspired the 1989 film “Lean on Me,”. He died at his Florida home on Tuesday after a long battle with an unspecified illness. He was 82.

Quote of the Day: “They used to call me Crazy Joe. Well now they can call me Batman!” Joe Louis Clark, from the movie Lean on Me.