Last Sunset of 2021

 It has become a personal tradition to go out and watch the sun go down the horizon for the last time in the current year. The practice evokes a bit of melancholy as memories come back while watching the light of the setting sun fade out. This year will not be different. I plan to go out later today as the tints of the skies turn to orange, then to purple, and then deep blue.

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This year, there will be a lot of sadder memories; however, as I lost a few friends and have some that continue to suffer from COVID-19. As the COVID-19 continues, it continues to disrupt our daily lives.    Christmas celebrations were still limited to the closest family members, and I won’t be surprised if New Year’s revelries will also be less festive. Many of my friends and relatives don’t see the end of all of these in the near future. Just when people started to go out from the almost 2-year quarantine period, the number of new cases also climbed. While the government reported that many of the new cases had not received the vaccine, I also know some fully vaccinated friends who recently got infected.

I don’t know if it has something to do with the increase in the number of infections, but I noticed that some people who go out seemed to have forgotten to observe the recommended health protocols. People do not practice social distancing in malls, and they bring their small children and elderly relatives to dine in these establishments. I am apprehensive about eating outside because I would have to remove my face mask and possibly expose myself to the virus.

As I watch the sunset later today, I wish it will bring all our worries about this coronavirus with it. Tomorrow’s sunrise hopefully brings a better year ahead, free from the ongoing health emergency concerns.