For Dian Fossey, Christmas was an epic event. Perhaps her unhappy childhood made her long for a traditional and joyful celebration, one she could take to the nth degree. She had always given gifts and candies to children in nearby villages. Once Dian established Karisoke, she invited her staff, their spouses, and children to join in the festivities every year.

As I look back on 2020, it's been a year of turning challenges into opportunities. Restricted driving days saved us a lot of money on gas. I like the idea of hand sanitizer outside every business — it makes me conscious of my health and the health of others, even people I don't know. I've had more time to write.

As the holiday season nears, I've accepted the fact COVID-19 will prevent David and me from making our annual holiday trip to California to visit family and friends this year. The one saving grace is my daughter, Dawn, will come down to spend the holidays with us here in Costa Rica. If you're able to be safe and with your loved ones, count yourself lucky.

One of the many challenges Dian Fossey faced living high up in the Virunga Mountain Range of Rwanda was limited food options. When we were there back in 1985, the typical diet was comprised of sweet potatoes, plantains, cassavas (manioc) sorghum, and few vegetables.