Dear Friend,

After a long year, this holiday break is one we all deserve. As a British poet put it about the pandemic, it’s been a roller coaster for all of us–with false starts, dashed hopes, and lessons in the value of resilience. However we celebrate Christmas (in my case, with Chinese food and a movie), I wish everyone a respite, time with friends and family, and a chance to catch your breath. And let’s all pull for a white Christmas, as we really need the water.