We are in the home stretch of 2021.

As the year winds down, it seems that the holiday season will be more “normal” than it was last year. People everywhere are decorating, shopping and celebrating in groups. Hopefully vaccines and safe practices will keep COVID-19 at bay, allowing those festive gatherings to continue.

There is a lot going on in the world right now. In connection with the holiday season, there are special shopping events, festivals, parades and parties. There are shortages of some supplies, and the price of almost everything is going up. Politics marches on, with talk about the economy, the pandemic, infrastructure, foreign relations and climate change.

Everyone has their own individual set of stuff to deal with as well. Whether you have children involved in school-related activities, elderly parents to care for or support or you participate in community organizations, it seems each of us is busy with more and more things competing for our time.

Sometimes, we need an outlet for the frustrations or the important thoughts that crop up as a result of all these things. For me, it’s easy to dedicate this space to venting about one issue or another one any given weekend.

Here at The Times Leader, we want to serve as a forum for you and your thoughts as well.

Every year in December, I notice that submissions for our editorial pages begin to decline. Perhaps as people help their youngest household members write letters to Santa, they run out of time to write letters to the editor.

So today I want to remind you that The Times Leader is your newspaper. We want to hear from you, whether you write a 500-word letter to the editor or have a bit more to say on a subject. I am willing to work with anyone who wants to express themselves about an important issue — or at least one that is timely, interesting or entertaining.

Letters to the editor do not have to be about politics, although that is a topic that motivates many of our writers. Especially as elections approach, we receive an abundance of letters about candidates for office and issues that are on the ballot for voters to consider.

But such a letter can be about anything. Maybe you believe your neighborhood would benefit from a new stop sign at a particular intersection. Or perhaps someone you now inspired you to donate blood. Maybe your young neighbor keeps a surprisingly tidy property and still made time to bring you a plate of cookies. Or, it could be that people who drive in the left lane of the interstate all the time grate on your nerves.

Letters to the editor can be used to express appreciation, frustration, anxiety, glee or to simply share something you believe is a good idea.

If you have something that you want to say to the community — or if you would like to recommend someone you now to be a regular contributor as a columnist — please reach out to me. I can be reached by phone at 740-633-1131, etc. 731. You can also email me at jcompston@timesleaderonline.com. Letters can be dropped off or mailed to 200 S. Fourth St., Martins Ferry, OH 43935. Or you can contact us via out virtual newsroom at timesleaderonline.com or through our Facebook page.

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Speaking of the holidays, I hope all of our readers had a blessed and enjoyable Thanksgiving.

My husband, Mike, and I had one of our best celebrations in recent memory. Neither of us had to work, the dinner preparation went pretty smoothly, and we were able to gather with his entire immediate family.

We revived the tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, even opting to replay it when family members started to arrive. It provided a nice, festive backdrop for our conversations before we sat down to eat.

Despite the fact that we had an evening feast, sitting down to the table between 5:30 and 6 p.m., we had all the leftovers put away and the dishes done and dried shortly after 9 p.m., leaving a little time for relaxation before bed.

As I came and went from the house a few times throughout the day Thursday, I couldn’t help but notice the wonderful aromas that greeted me each time I returned. The fragrant herbs on the roasting turkey, the rich smell of the gravy and the spicy cinnamon wafting up from dishes such as carrots and pie all combined to create a wonderful, familiar smell that filled the house and spilled out the door each time it was opened.

Lots of people appreciate the sights and sounds of the holidays, but I think the smells might be even better. And I don’t just mean the aromas of special foods such as cookies and fudge or a hot baked ham.

I also love the fragrance of fresh pine, whether it is coming from a fresh-cut tree or from a garland or wreath. There’s also a pleasant, mild dusty mustiness that comes from the ancient boxes that have held holiday decorations in the attic for decades. And when the littlest relatives arrive, there’s that baby powder smell that makes everything seem a little more fresh and new.

After the big meal Thursday, a lot of folks opted to venture out in search of Black Friday deals early the next morning. I did not do that this year, although I have in the past. Instead, I went about my daily work routine, reading and writing and making sure everything was in place for today’s edition.

After the successes we had last year — and with a few lessons learned — I anticipate doing a fair amount of my holiday shopping online. While I do prefer to hold certain items in my hand so that I can get a sense of their quality and actual size, the convenience of purchasing gifts without ever having to leave home is enticing. Perhaps I will be able to take advantage of the Small Business Saturday events in our region, though, since locally owned shops offer many things you might never find online.

In any event, I feel like we had a successful start to the holiday season at our home, and I have the impression that many other residents feel that way as well. There seems to be more optimism in the air this year, and that’s a good thing.