Editor:

My thanks to Martin Smukler for his letter "Courageous" in last week's Journal (Dec. 2). He said, "We only have to look at the arts and humanities and our tremendous technological prowess to realize the potential for good within us". I went to this year's "Holiday Extravaganza" at Redwood Acres only to find that it was a shell of its former self. Instead of four vibrant, bustling buildings filled with various artisans' booths, holiday music, and lots of good food vendors, there was only one building open with a few determined souls offering their handmade wares. It made me wonder how each artist, business owner and musician was impacted by this pandemic, which is the worst public health crisis in our lifetime. How many artists and patrons of the arts died this year of COVID-19? It made me feel so sad.

We also made our way to Loleta to the "Mystic Mountain Christmas Tree Farm" and cut down a lovely 6-foot Noble Fir tree. I had never been there before and it was a delightful experience. Masks, distancing and hand sanitizer were required. I was thankful for these precautions. Bob Dylan said, "My sense of humanity has gone down the drain, behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain." That line is from his song "Not Dark Yet." We need to see the light and be the light. I wish everyone would do their part to end this pandemic. Marty, you are right. We all need to do a lot better if we want to save ourselves, each other, and our precious mother earth. 

April Jones, Arcata