Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Sid Salter: A Baby Boy's Arrival Brings Hope & Joy to the Pandemic Darkness

Our family, like most, is nearing the end of our collective ropes in COVID-19 fatigue and pandemic uncertainty. Enough, already.

 

We are miles past weariness with masks, social distancing, extra sanitization, toilet paper and Lysol wipe hoarding, travel restrictions, and seeing friends struggle to keep their businesses open and their jobs secure. We miss our family members – particularly older relatives who are undeniably vulnerable to the coronavirus.

 

In my work, meetings, conferences, and even face-to-face conversations have been subsumed by Zoom, Webex, or Teams meetings that are effective but amplify the feelings of isolation, separation, and growing disconnection from the pre-COVID world.

 

I confess a certain amount of irrational anger at those who either won’t wear a mask at all in public or worse, those who seem unable to grasp how to wear masks correctly by letting them hang below their nostrils. I get that a percentage of the population values not being told what to do far more than they value contributing their part to keeping others safe – even vulnerable members of their own families.

 

But I digress. The point is that the Great 2019-2020 Pandemic has been a colossal pain and it appears that despite truly encouraging news on the vaccine front, the COVID rollercoaster ride will continue well into the summer of 2021.

 

As we all learned over Thanksgiving, the celebration of holidays within the COVID construct is difficult and not particularly satisfying. The people we’re used to seeing a couple of times a year in normal times just aren’t being seen. 

 

Christmas is the season in which Christians celebrate the birth of a baby 2,020 years ago when the world was in spiritual darkness. Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, was written in the fifth century B.C. The word of God had effectively not been heard for over four centuries.

 

When Christ was born, the Roman Empire had been in power for half a century. The children of Israel were a people without a real ruler or army, existing under the tacit leadership of Herod the Great – a Roman puppet who pretended to convert to the Jewish faith and rebuilt their temples that had been destroyed by the Babylonians.

 

The Romans allowed observance of local religions, but the Hebrews were at that time waiting for the Messiah since the days of Malachi. In the absence of a new prophet to provide religious leadership, the ancient Jewish Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes ruled by tradition, sacrament, and ritual. They maintained an uneasy relationship with the Roman political and military leadership.

 

Into that uncertain, dangerous, and complicated world, Jesus was born in a manger. During his brief ministry, Jesus brought hope and joy to followers who believed him to be the long-awaited Messiah and became the central figure of the Christian faith.

 

In the New Testament Book of John, Jesus spoke these words: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

 

There was no star in the east and indeed no manager, but our family found the light of Christ last week in a familiar setting – in the birth of another baby boy.

 

His name is Brooks Salter Gregory, and he arrived on Dec. 2 at OCH Regional Medical Center in Starkville weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 21.5 inches long. His arrival has been anticipated by his parents, sister, grandparents, great-grandparents, and extended family for the past nine months despite the pandemic.

 

No grandparents in the hospital hallway, no friends were waiting to hold the baby, just Kate and Nathan Gregory with the OCH medical personnel. Texts and FaceTime gave us our first glimpses of our new grandson. It was different for everyone.

 

Certainly, no single event brought “light” to the world like the birth of Christ. But in days like these, we all must diligently search for the light of Christ where we can find it. It is in the glow of that light that we can find our way through the darkness of the pandemic and still hold onto our collective humanity.

 

Welcome to the world, Little Big Man. What a blessing you are!  


Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com 
 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to see his family taking precautions. Too many selfish people think "I'll just take this risk to see my family, it's no big deal", but multiply that by millions and you see the out-of-control epidemic we are facing right now.

3,658 new cases confirmed in Mississippi today. That shatters the old record set just last week by almost 1,200. Does anyone with a lick of common sense think that isn't a direct result of Thanksgiving gatherings that are now being brought home to other vulnerable people? You would think our middle-school education had failed since that is where students are supposed to learn about how contagious diseases work.

I feel bad for those that are having to make more sacrifices than necessary simply because there is a large portion of our population that either refuses or is completely ignorant of effective mitigation as a whole. Europeans faced the same surge we did and they cut their infection rate in half. We, on the other hand, have more than doubled it in the same time period. Says a lot about us.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the new Grand!


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.