The holidays are usually filled with joyful anticipation of visits with extended family and boisterous celebration. This year, however, many families are planning quieter, smaller get-togethers, putting safety first. For families affected by chronic neurologic conditions, this precaution is not only wise but also the ultimate expression of love—from grandchildren who want to protect their grandparents to healthy people who want to keep those more vulnerable from possibly getting the virus. As the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises, smaller gatherings allow us to limit contact, maintain safe distances, and reduce the risk of spread.

Though we may not meet our friends and relatives face-to-face, we should not neglect one another. For many, the holidays can be filled with loneliness and sadness. Depression and anxiety, which tend to rise during this time, are expected to be even worse this year when isolation is already at a peak. Virtual holiday parties, check-ins on FaceTime, and good old-fashioned phone calls are easy ways to reach out to those who may be lonely. This issue's Take Charge column reveals that virtual connections may even have some advantages. In going online, patient organizations have extended their reach and strengthened their bonds with their communities.

Reflecting on gratitude also can boost mood. I, for example, am grateful that through telemedicine I have been invited into so many of my patients' homes this past year. I have met their families and pets and received tours of their homes and gardens. I also am grateful to former CBS correspondent Bill Geist for sharing his story in "Breaking News" about how he and his son, Willie, a news anchor, are raising awareness of Parkinson's disease. As always, I am thankful for our readers, who share so much of their lives with us. In this issue, a single mother describes how she homeschools two daughters who have Down syndrome, and another remarkable woman describes her recovery after a concussion. In our Healthy Living section, readers disclose what they are grateful for during this challenging year in vignettes that inspire and warm the heart.

As we head into winter, we are learning more about COVID-19, including symptoms that can linger after infection. In "The Long, Slow Rebound," experts discuss the path to recovery. In "Race for a Vaccine," we bring you snapshots of vaccines in clinical trials, explaining their differences and how their safety and effectiveness are being ensured. I often think ahead to the time when we will be vaccinated and return to a more normal and safer life. As I write this letter, Pfizer has announced that its investigational vaccine is more than 90 percent effective against COVID-19. That is indeed very promising news.

I am hopeful that by the next holiday season we'll be able to resume celebrations with those we love and have kept at a distance. Until then, I wish you and your families good health and happiness, and a wonderful new year!

Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief