This is Christmas letter number 50. My Grand Finale! I started writing this in 1970, when we had recently moved from Atlanta to Nashville. Much has changed. The cost of gasoline was 36 cents which today would be $2.45. A Ford or a Chevy was $3,542.

Favorite TV shows were Happy Days, Cheers, Laverne and Shirley, Three’s Company, The Brady Bunch and Mash. Academy Award winners Midnight Cowboy, John Wayne in True Grit and Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Super Bowl V saw the Baltimore Colts defeat the Dallas Cowboys (coached by Tom Landry). The World Series winner was the Baltimore Orioles over the Cincinnati Reds. It was the last series where all games had to be played in the afternoon.

Richard Nixon was president. The voting age was lowered to 18. The Beetles disbanded. Simon and Garfunkel recorded “Bridge over Troubled Waters.” 100,000 anti-Viet Nam protesters descended on Washington D.C. Four protestors were killed by the National Guard at Kent State University.

The first Earth Day was observed. The Concorde made its first flight. On the 3rd trip to the moon, Apollo 13 woke us all up with the message, “Houston, we have a problem.”

Fifty years from now, I wonder what people will remember about 2020. I doubt anyone will remember it fondly as “The Good Old Days.” Like many of you, I have awakened every day to face fear of the virus, concern about America adn the loneliness of isolation. With grace and strength of God, however, I have been grateful for each day and find blessings in the midst of the mess.

In addition to family, I am blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends.

I have appreciated your patience with my annual journal. I always enjoy your cards and messages. I pray God will keep you and those you love safe and healthy. Please pray for America. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.”

May we remember to thank God everyday for the gift of life He gave to us on Christmas.

• This letter was sent to Pat Geeting of Shelbyville from a friend.