There is a song I hear on a 1940s classic jazz station called, "When the lights go on again (all over the world)." It was written at the height of World War II and is a melancholy tune. But it speaks of hope as well, promising that ships will sail again, and free hearts will sing. And a kiss will not mean goodbye, but hello.

We are in a dark period now, with a COVID-19 death toll exceeding that of World War II, and chilling news that life expectancy in the U.S. dropped by a full year due to the virus. But there are hopeful signs about us, too, with positivity rates dropping and vaccination rates increasing. If we continue to live safely, wear a mask, get vaccinated in our turn, and practice social distancing, the lights will go on again. And grannies will be able to hug their grandchildren, couples will be able to have that wedding they planned, and a kiss will again mean hello, not goodbye.

Thomas M. Moriarty

East Lyme