Dispatch from The Hills: 500,000+ Lives

Dispatch from The Hills: 500,000+ Lives

By Lynn Venhaus
Feb 22, 2021. In personal remarks, President Biden led a tribute for the 500,000+ lives lost during the coronavirus pandemic that had tp resonate with all those grappling with bereavement.

In a candlelight ceremony, with a moment of silence for all those who have died this past year — more lives lost than in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War combined — we were able to mark this enormous loss.

Biden’s empathy and firsthand experience with heart-shattering grief are important now, meaningful words to comfort those grieving. He is the man for the moment.

Around 2,000 people die from the disease every day on average (data from Johns Hopkins University), which is down from a high of more than 3,000 a day on average in mid-January. Last month, the coronavirus was the leading cause of death in America. To date, 28 million people have tested positive in U.S.

The eloquence today consoled a nation, with sincerity and sympathy. Throughout the year, though, we knew how wise and heartfelt his words on grief were. — really ever since his book on his son Beau’s death from cancer at age 46. And in a first, the night before the inauguration, they light Lincoln Memorial in a ceremony that was so very touching.

Collective grief is important. I am still grieving two major losses in 2018 and 2019, and all I can say is, it’s hard. So many triggers. It is not something you ever get over. Some days are better than others. But the kindness and compassion of friends and family help.

Joe Biden’s words have helped me navigate mourning, time and time again.

Ok, critics will say he’s longwinded, and whatever else they want to hurl at him, but he rolled up his sleeves and went to work for all Americans. Actions do speak louder than words. And we see that it’s about us, not him. His teams are working to reset some sort of normalcy to American life. And to try to end the political angle and disinformation about the virus.

His approval rating was 62% last week, which is remarkable. I ask all those who didn’t vote for him to give him a chance – I have always done that with people I didn’t vote for (even #45, but then after a few weeks, it was worse than I could ever imagine in a bizarro world that have been documented many times and we don’t have time to rehash. Moving forward. But the contrast is stunning.

Joe is a devout Catholic, a man of faith. It’s refreshing to have a president who actually prays daily — and without a big show or arranging a photo op. People can tell he is a decent man who really cares about others. Attack his policies, his viewpoint, and work towards solutions if you do, but as a country, he is addressing what needs to be done, and we need to do our part. He inherited a huge mess, not to mention the deep scars of the Big Lie.

We are desperate for leadership, strength, peace, support and reassurance.

The pandemic has changed us all. I experienced a mild case of it, and it’s terrifying, but thankfully, I recovered, and pray for many people daily who are hospitalized or for their families who have lost loved ones — a number in that growing statistic. It’s devastating and it’s real. Biden said: “Resist becoming numb.” We must. We must fight.

Godspeed, frontline workers, first responders, those dealing with coronavirus, our leaders to help get the vaccines to as many people as possible, and all those concerned about our fellow man in these dark times. Need something positive? Look for the helpers.

Here’s the whole ceremony:

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/biden-honors-lost-covid-19-76054180