​Dear Friends,
It is sort of strange, but not unexpected, that one of the main subjects we hear about in conversations with friend and clients starts with a question that has become a common refrain: “Have you gotten your shots?”  Hopefully you are getting closer to your magic vaccination number, unless you are one of the fortunate few that have received your shot(s). 
A year ago, the only herds anyone talked about was on a cattle farm – immunity from a virus was certainly not top of mind.  At this point, the path to herd immunity is predicated on how quickly the vaccine can be fully rolled out and we get “needles in arms”. 
One could also easily make the case that economic recovery is also predicated on the pace of vaccine rollout.  According to research done by the Vanguard Group, they estimate U.S. GDP growth will be above 5% for 2021 – and that does not include any additional governmental fiscal support.  Their estimate rises to 6.5% if further fiscal support comes to fruition, including direct aid to families, and to state and local governments with additional health-related efforts.

​Dear Friends,
The start of this year has been anything but boring.  I hope you and your family are well and looking forward to an interesting year.
A year ago, the first cases of COVID-19 showed up in Seattle.  What many thought was just another flu virus (me included) proved to be something much worse and way more deadly.  Everyone’s world changed and were impacted to varying degrees.  Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon in the form of vaccines.  Optimistically, a year from now this will be behind us and nothing more than a bad memory.
And, hopefully, the political rancor will abate now that the elections and inauguration are behind us.  “Unity” may be too much to ask for, but patience, tolerance and respect are not impossible.

Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to you.  My hope for all of us is that this is a year of good health, much happiness and prosperity.

A New Year – Turn the Page
When you raised your champagne glass (or beverage of choice) to ring in the new year, how many of you wished “Good Riddance” to 2020?  At this moment, it seems impossible that last year was anything other than a really bad dream for so many people.  No one could have predicted that we would endure nearly every disaster known to humanity – except for an asteroid hitting Earth.
Hopefully very soon, the incessant smell of Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer will be replaced with fragrant candles and aromatic (stinky) perfume.
Hopefully soon we can kvetch about people using their cell phones in the movie theatre, overcrowding the restaurants, and taking all the prime tee times at the golf course.
We may still be leery about shaking hands or hugging strangers, but we may not have to wonder whether the unmasked person is a super-spreader.
Someday, hopefully very soon, the inconveniences, sorrows and emotional strain caused by COVID-19 will be a distant nightmare in our collective consciences.
And hopefully very soon, we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable or combative. 
I am so glad for the new year and, very soon, the opportunity for all of us to return to living our lives of significance.