When we unpacked the Christmas decorations this year, we found our tree-topping star had shed its glitter cover, disintegrating into a minimalist net of wires and bulbs worthy of an appearance in The Nightmare Before Christmas. We tried wrapping some paper around to spread a rosy glow and produced sort of a Son of Eye of Sauron. Perfect for 2020!

Those decorations are gone now–the star into the trash–and 2021 is here with strong promise. The days are getting longer, and ever-so-slightly warmer. The vaccine is being distributed. A subset of the Trump supporters–I know you guys, I love you, but I don’t understand you–raided the Capitol building with the unintentional results of a) converting some of the most ardent Trump enablers into this-has-gone-too-far speechifiers, and b) demonstrating both the ineptitude and the racism of US law enforcement for all to observe. And a miracle occurred on Epiphany: the Democrats got control of the Senate by sweeping the Georgia runoff elections.

I regret that lives were lost in the Capitol assault, but overall I think the event benefitted our country, allowing us all to see how far beyond social media posting some fellow citizens are willing to go to overturn democracy and flout rule of law. I was especially moved to hear Senator Tammy Duckworth explain that she fought in a war in Iraq, a war in which she did not believe, prosecuted by a president for whom she didn’t vote, because that’s how much she supports democracy. She lost both legs in that war.

Other speeches were less compelling. I’m not buying the This is not America line. This is us, baby. WYSIWYG. Not saying we can’t be better. In fact, we’d have to try hard to avoid it. Though we may never again “Be Best.” Were we ever? Let’s make it a goal.

best /best/ noun That which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable.

One woman’s opinion: The best human society is one in which every person has peace, health, equality, and a chance to seek self-contentment. To be ideal, it would also avoid, or rather stop, ruining the health of its planet and destroying all other species.

Maybe my expectations were lowered too much by 2020, but 2021 is lifting my heart. I feel a touch of hope I haven’t felt in quite a while.