Happy New Year from the Abel Family

When we wrote this message last year, 2020 was shaping up to be truly momentous, so much promise, so much anticipation. We are relatively unscathed by the global pandemic emergency, and much of the promise of 2020 was fulfilled. We hope that our family, friends, and colleagues can say the same and that we can all summon enthusiasm for 2021.

The web site underwent drastic changes both visibly and technically; there are many security enhancements and I think that the design will feel good for a long time to come.

We travel to Arlington, Virginia to visit Felicia and Bob
	It was the most spectacular Groundhog Day ever, palindromatic 02 02 2020, after a year of planning, Mumtaz and I join over 40000 other celebrants at Gobblers’ Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
In a triply pleasant trip, later in February, I finally travel to the Bahamas by light plane. More than that, the destination was an island that is accessible only by air. No photos but our launch point was Fort Lauderdale which was close to Eli, Etelle and Michelle so I dropped in for the afternoon.
	Rehana, Naeem, Ayaan, Inaya and Laila visit in early March. Sam joined us in St. Catharines, then we all went to Toronto for a weekend.

As March began, Sam was in the second month of her 3-month leave of absence; she signalled at the end of 2019 that she was ready to push her dissertation work forward significantly. I was planning another trip to the Oshkosh Air Show. Mumtaz and I were planning to vacation in the U.K. Celebrations for the 45th anniversary of the Rocky Horror Picture Show were being planned. My 65th birthday was on the horizon.

Of course, by mid-March it was clear that we were not going to escape the global pandemic. Mumtaz was confined to the house, I was “essential” and continued working throughout the lock down. Sam resumed working in April, she and Trevor were largely confined to their apartment but continuing to work.

Originally Sam expected to push the progress of her dissertation forward significantly over her 3-month leave from work. In fact, she managed to complete the work with time to spare.

On June 3, Sam defended her dissertation over several hours in a Zoom meeting with Mumtaz and me listening in. She emerged from the session with her PhD and her dissertation was nominated for an award which will determined in February 2021.

	Summer was uneventful, walks, drives etc. I did take a week vacation for more walks and longer drives, here are photos of Sandbanks Park and Port Dover.
In late October, there is a streaming graduation ceremony, it is a placeholder for the commencement exercises that will be held for all graduates once it is safe. Trevor photographs Dr. Sam in her doctoral finery in our back yard, the second of 2 carefully planned and socially distanced visits.
	I turn 65 in early November. Mumtaz bakes me a giant cookie. When it is safer, I will proceed with my long planned birthday celebration, a trip to Toronto on public transportation paying seniors’ fare.
Every year, the residents of Rio Lane near where we live in St. Catharines put on a light show for the holiday season; they deserve some credit for managing this entirely on their own.
	Sam and Trevor conclude that it is finally time to purchase matching pyjamas.
For much more, please visit https://www.abelfamily.ca/wordpress To all our Family, Friends and Colleagues, We Hope that 2021 Brings Health, Prosperity, and Happiness All the best