I clutched my cup of coffee against my chest; thoughts raced through January to December. What a year it has been! Dreams turned on a dime, expectations recalibrated, paths diverted. Still, I am optimistic. Many of you might say 2020 was a year of surprises.

For a while I missed my coffee breaks to the coffee shop; I brewed coffee at home and consumed at my kitchen table; I ventured out wearing a face mask with hand sanitizer tucked in my purse; and I laughed that I had to look closer to recognize friends from six feet away.

2021 will be different. I have a life to live, Manuscripts to complete and books to publish.

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours and a peaceful, prosperous and healthy 2021.

Olive Rose Steele is the author of CRY TOUGH (a novel)