We two who’ve paddled in the stream
From morning sun ’til night
The seas between us roared and swelled
Since the days of auld lang syne.

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
For the sake of auld lang syne?
(from Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns)

We were a group of eight. For years, we gathered for dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant several Saturdays a month. Regularly, the birthdays were celebrated with joyful acknowledgement. And, every New Year’s Eve, we bid goodbye to the old year and anticipated with hope the year to come.

Since 2018, five of us have passed — from the deterioration of old age; from cancer; and from COVID-19 which stole my partner, Jody. We three survivors carry on, still gathering to celebrate our own birthdays and those of the ones who are no longer with us; in short, to remember. Importantly, we continue our New Year’s Eve dinners.

This New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025, will be the sixth time that Jody will be missing from our dinner. I find myself more introspective than I have been in previous years. I am worried that my memories of Jody are fading with time. The sound of his voice, his hearty laugh, the gentle breathing as he slept don’t always come swiftly to mind. I miss the feel of my fingers running over his skin. The simple way he interacted with others –- friends and strangers, human, canine, and feline alike –- always with care and respect. Most of all, I miss him keeping me on an even keel when my patience runs low.

During our New Year’s Eve dinners, we always share what we hope to accomplish in the coming year. Every year it sounds the same: lose some weight, throw out old junk, read more and watch less television. This year one thought stands strong in my heart and mind.

The world seems hell-bent on forgetting the millions who were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. I find it difficult to believe that they don’t care, but, sadly, that’s probably true for many. Others, perhaps, feel guilty that they survived unscathed and still don’t know how to express any feeling of consolation to those who lost loved ones. For all of us that lost someone, we cannot, we MUST NOT let them be forgotten. I will work harder to tell Jody’s story, what gave him joy, what he struggled with, all the things that made him Jody. In other words, I will keep him alive in my mind and in my heart. Won’t you do the same for your loved ones?