My Turn: The start of a new year – The Recorder

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., in Jackson, Wyo. last month. AP
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I have lived in western Massachusetts for nearly two-thirds of my life, and I have grown accustomed to considering September the beginning of a new year. With 12 colleges and universities in three counties, the academic calendar rules. Rosh Hashanah coincides as well.
The world is a complicated and often troubling place, and it makes me all the more grateful that by nature I tend to be someone who appreciates what and who are good influences in the midst of turmoil and enormous challenges. Included here is a partial gratitude list as I reflect on the past year. I cannot provide details for each person or place with the space constraints of this column, but all are important to me, and some are wildly unexpected choices.
Let’s start with the unexpected. Liz Cheney. No explanation needed. Neighbors I ran into a month ago who invited me to swim in their pool anytime. Those morning swims are 20 minutes of much-needed self-care. Conductor JoAnn Falletta. I met her 30 years ago and never would have predicted that we would cultivate a friendship now and that I would see her at Tanglewood. Insight Meditation of Western Massachusetts. Serving as a host for zoom dharma talks is more of a gift than they imagine. Veterans I serve (me, the pacifist) who regularly surprise and inspire me. Tennis professional Mike Kolendo. While he is not surprising, the USPTA New England Diversity Award he presented to me was unforeseen.
In general, I am grateful to friends who come over to commune with me on the deck while understanding my vigilance with pandemic protocol. We are able to enjoy each other with distance without masks in a relaxed outdoor space. I am grateful for my faithful friends who love me as I am and who trust my kind heart. I have been ridiculed and bullied for being different.
Thanks to easy and yummy takeout food from Filo’s and India Palace in Northampton and to Deborah Snow and Barbara White for their many years owning and running the Blue Heron in Sunderland. Besides serving up incredible food in a beautiful space, their work to support local farmers and politically progressive causes has been remarkable.
People who work for a better world are total heroes — both the known and the unknown. Elected officials such as state Representative Lindsay Sabadosa. With little fanfare, she led the charge to ensure access to abortion medication for all public college and university students in Massachusetts. I believe the 2023 college applications will rise significantly here and in other states where full reproductive health care is embedded into law.
Sandra Sheehan has headed the Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority (PVTA) through unprecedented challenges in the pandemic era. This year, she and her team successfully won a $54 million grant award — the largest in PVTA history. The UMass terminal that serves the Five Colleges will expand to meet higher demand, and the general PVTA service will increase its electric bus fleet and its workforce.
I have always admired the doctors, nurses, and other humanitarians who go into dangerous situations throughout the world to save lives. Many of them are in our own country’s health care facilities, in Ukraine or in other regions suffering from famine, drought or war. This past year, I have thought more deeply about the qualities of such people. They are in a league of their own.
My dogs, Lu and Guillaume, are at the top of my list. They offer comedy relief and consistent company. Lu is a guard and watch dog outside and a total soft-hearted love in the home. Guillaume is an entitled, scrappy and lovable Frenchie who has taught Lu to appreciate the insistent companionship of another dog. We are a pack.
Many people are celebrating the accomplishments of tennis great Serena Williams during this year’s US Open. This has me feeling grateful all over again for Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles. Martina brought full-body athleticism to the game, and Monica had the audacity to make noise — to grunt. Both were ostracized with sexist bias in their time for being who they were. Serena benefitted from such trail blazers as she played tough tennis without concession.
This is primary voting week in Massachusetts. We are fortunate that our commonwealth includes many qualified candidates for elected office. Thank you for running your races.
Finally, when I consider how important it is to have heart in who we are and what we do, well, I cannot help but feel grateful for Ann and Nancy Wilson.

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