Notebook

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

 

*FLASH! Wednesday, Jan. 6, Protestors stormed the U.S. Capitol; House and Senate evacuated; Electoral Vote Count stopped!
*Dr. Fauci’s Warning on ‘New COVID Strain’
*Being ALONE to Celebrate the Holidays…
*An Erratum to Edith Ardiente’s candid reply to an ‘on the spot’ question

Wednesday, January 6, celebrated among the Christians as “THREE KINGS DAY,” the day when the Three Kings from the Orient visited the Baby Jesus and brought Him gifts while asleep on the hay on a manger at a stable surrounded by animals and the Shepherds in Bethlehem.

But, on that same day, our beautiful State Capitol in Washington, DC was stormed not by “Presidents”but by protestors that caught the Capitol Guards “off guard” evacuating the House and the Senate and put the Electoral Vote Count to a halt!. As shown on television, the Capitol guards were caught in a big surprise watching the crowd going inside the Capitol turning into a rioting inferno. The guards evacuated both the House and the Senate and STOPPED the Electoral Vote Counting. As shown on television, the riot was no less loud and riotous like most riots we see happening nowadays.

Then, stepped in president-elect Joe Biden who called on President Donald Trump to speak. The President spoke without much ado and advised the crowd to go home, peacefully. But the crowd got bigger and louder. Since I was trying hard to beat my NOTEBOOK deadline, I turned off the TV. So, as you’re reading NOTEBOOK now, (January VIA TIMES), you already got the whole story about the Invasion of the Capitol. As I write this piece, I said a little prayer to Him for a positive message to emanate from this daring “Invasion of the White House” in conjunction with the Voters’ demand for HONESTY in our “questionable” recent national presidential election process. “The Truth will set us Free.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sadly, WE all bade the Year 2020 with a very sad “Goodbye” and “Welcomed” the New Year 2021 with the same ambivalent feeling. For over a year today, our Faith in our God has been put to a test. Indeed, God’s “test” is working among many of us. Since the inception of the virus, I am seeing a lot of “spiritual upliftment” among many of us. At least, I don’t see anyone giving me a “sarcastic look” anymore, every time I say “God bless you” instead of just plain “goodbye “ at the end of our friendly conversation. However, until now we really don’t see an ASSURANCE of the “end” of Covid pandemic, as indicated on this recent press release which says:

“Another highly virulent new strain of COVID has recently been identified, and experts say it could be even more infectious than the ones that preceded it—including the U.K. variant that’s now been found in four U.S. states. The new COVID strain, which was first identified in South Africa, could pose a serious risk to many Americans, according to Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and leading member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. In an interview with Newsweek, Fauci said it was likely that the new strain of COVID— dubbed 501.V2—was already in the U.S., despite the fact that experts ‘have not detected the South African strain’ in the country yet”

‘“I would be surprised if it were not already in the United States, but you never know until you find it, and then prove it’s here,” Fauci told Newsweek. He said that, if by some chance it’s not already in the U.S., it’s inevitable that it’ll come to America as people begin to move more freely between countries again. “Sooner or later it will get here.” Unfortunately, the new covid is now in America.

What about the vaccine? According to the scientists working hard on this pandemic, with “highly contagious nature” … “the biggest concerns about the 501.V2 COVID strain is that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines being administered in the U.S. may not be as effective against it. However, Fauci noted that the existing U.S. vaccines are “very flexible, it would only take a few months to modify them for maximum efficacy against the South African COVID strain.”

According to Dr. Fauci, a vast majority of virus mutations are meaningless, but the medical sectors are on high alert. “Every once in a while you get a mutation that does have clinical significance. And that’s the reason why you need to continually monitor these changes,” Dr. Fauci added.

But, of course, it is our own responsibility to follow all restrictions like constant wearing of mask and distancing. And asking for HELP from Someone Up There if you have FAITH in Him. Amen.

***

AN ERRATUM on Edith Ardiente’s response to my on-thespot question (Via Times, Dec. 2020) “what is your vision about America’s future under President- elect Joe Biden, if President Donald Trump would eventually “drop” his fight for his re-election “VICTORY”?

Edith’s candid response: “My outlook about America’s future under President-Elect Joe Biden can be summed up in my ideal attributes of leadership making up the word CRASH – Civility, Respect, Accountability, Science and Honesty. I had been in this wonderful country for over fifty years. I had looked to America as that beautiful beacon on the hill, the living and vibrant land of democracy. Over the years, I had voted for Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, analyzing which of their administrations could or would deliver on my ideal attributes of CRASH. As expected, none of those administrations delivered on those ideals perfectly. As we know, nobody is perfect, no administration is perfect. Some came close, others not too close, others simply too far away, as in the last four years.

So, my vision, my hope and my prayers are that under President Joe Biden, America would show the world what a true democracy is – Civil, Respectful, Accountable, Science-based and Honest. Indeed, CRASH is our vision and our hope! God bless America. God bless Biden’s administration in the next four years and beyond!” Edith Ardiente, Chemical Engineer.

***

JOYFULLY, I CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS 2020 and the NEW YEAR 2021, Alone! For safety, I tried to follow the “Covid rules on Distancing, avoiding groups of people. Yes, being alone was kind of lonesome, however, the solemnity (I did not turn on any musical instruments or TV), kept me closer to Some One Up There! This past Christmas Day, I prepared a CHRISTMAS DINNER TABLE complete with wine and sweets, for my loved ones who were called by the Lord to “Come Home”. I had a “conversation” with them, like we used to do when they were still around. To many of you, my dear friends, you’d think I was out of my mind. It’s okay. Once in a while, it is good to be “out of our mind” for as long as our Spirit relives with someone we love who were called by the Lord to “Come Home” ahead of us. Their “VISIT” brings back lovely memories, isn’t it?

HERE’s MY PROOF: This past Christmas 2020, I was spinning my human wheels, arranging my personal stuffs in preparation for my moving back home to the Philippines for good, this year 2021. Among my boxes of “research papers, photos, cards, etc.” fell a Christmas card from my beloved late hubby, Dennis. It was dated 12/24/90. The greetings, say:

To my dearest wife, Elsie,

I have you to stand beside me

You to comfort and to guide me

You to share the plans and dreams we’ve made for two

You to fill the days with sun

You to love when day is done

My life is filled with joy because of you.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Love, Your one and only, Dennis ****

Indeed, how sweet. Except that our Father Up there called him to “Come Home” earlier, 18 years ago. So… my dear friends, stop wondering why I did not find Dennis’ replacement, LOL!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our dear VIA TIMES READERS, ADVERTISERS, and FRIENDS! LET’s KEEP THE FAITH STRONGER IN OUR GOD, by loving our Brothers and Sisters in-Him. Amen.

Does President Donald Trump look like exiting the White House? Sadly, he’s being blamed by some Democrats on the invasion of the Capitol last January 6.

Me, Elsie, celebrating Christmas alone. Gift anyone??? No kidding. My plants are real, specially the Pepper plant gift from Joe Mauricio! Merry Christmas Joe and Veronique!