I grew up a “gamer.” I was right there at the beginning. I remember playing Atari video games, including Pong, at four years old with Mom, her sister, and the neighbor next door. I thought it was the best day of my life when Mom and Dad got me a Nintendo for my birthday (yes, just Nintendo… the original). I spent the next many months playing Super Mario Brothers (again, just Super Mario Brothers).

Well, we have almost reached the end of this wildly frustrating year. Christmas is right around the corner, and I’m hoping all of you are able to spend some time with family, whether in person or through connections from a distance. I’m also hopeful that 2021 will shine a little brighter than 2020 and be a little easier for all of us.

The first time I got a big cut over my left eye, I was in the first or second grade and was attending Ebenezer Avenue Elementary. The second time I got a big cut over my left eye, I was in the third or fourth grade, and early in my Richmond Drive Elementary school days. Both instances involved a lot of blood, a lot of fear, and a lot of stitches. I was scared both times, and each time I worried I’d lost an eye. Now think about the fear my mom had when her sweet little boy came running at her holding his head with blood running down his face… her sweet, little, stupid boy that not only almost lost an eye twice, but basically the same eye, and in the same spot. Fear can quickly turn to anger in cases like that.

Quarantine has been used to combat virus outbreaks for centuries.  From what I can find, the first use of a quarantine was in 14th century Italy to fight the plague.  A few of us have prior experiences of being quarantined.  I still remember the police tacking a big yellow sign on our front porch announcing to the world that our house was off limits to all.  It said, “Quarantined.  Mumps!”  The quarantine lasted until my three siblings and myself all experienced the disease.  I know how miserable it was for us kids to survive those couple weeks locked up in the house.  I can’t tell you how my mother even survived such a lock down.  I beg each of you to say a prayer to give a little strength to those parents who currently have young children in the house creating havoc! 

I am honored to have the chance to get to know our clients. Their history and stories are humbling and amazing. Some are war heroes or the parents or children of war heroes. Some have put in thousands of miles of travel each year for work, while others have traveled to an incredible number of countries for pleasure. Some have logged thousands of miles on bicycle. Dad, who is also a client by the way, is known to all of you as a crazy motorcyclist who has gone on 10,000 mile competitive motorcycle rides in 11 days. My Grandpa Bishop, who was also a client, was a machinist stationed on a navy boat in the Tokyo Bay during the signing of The Instrument of Surrender that marked the end of World War II. And many of our clients have raised or supported unimaginable numbers of kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

In December of last year, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (a.k.a. the SECURE Act) was passed, and it became effective on January 1st of this year. The enclosed article explains the Act and the major changes taking place, but I wanted to point out the ones that are most likely to affect you.