This is the New Year

2014 is about 40 hours old, and I'm still processing the last ten days of 2013. More so than previous years, the holidays flew by. Maybe it was the shortened period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and maybe it was just not being at home, with less time off between Texas and New Year's. Maybe because I was yearning for it to be over. There was some great break time on the Island, and some needed family time. But it was chaotic and not particularly restful. There was less chilling and reading and not even one opportunity for a blissful walk around the mall, picking up cheap lotions and calendars. It was always a whirlwind, which I guess sums up 2013.

I don't know what this year will bring. I mean, I know what I would like it to bring. But I hope it brings peace, love, quiet, and family time. Anything more is just a bonus.

Happy 2013

The last two weeks away have been good, and needed, yet they've gone by much too quickly. The time in the Bahamas, the time with family and the nephew, the time at home and lazying around on the couch. The time reading The Sun Also Rises and the Paris Wife and re-discovering Ernest Hemingway. The time watching a four year old discover "wine," playing with his police car, playing Apples to Apples and anticipating a new little brother or sister.  The time in church, the time laying on a beach and reading and eating and singing with Pianoman Leo Jones and singing along to the Elton John and the Billy Joel and the Journey and the other songs you just sing (badly) at a piano bar. Time moves much too quickly, doesn't it? We also had a great NYE, with good friends and a delicious filet of beef and copious amounts of wine.

I guess I will have more to say, but today we heard that this kid that S grew up, whom he graduated high school with, killed himself after posting a suicide note on Facebook...and that his son will grow up without a parent now. And that's tragic, no matter what.

So this is the new year...

and we are at Bethany with friends, celebrating and missing some. Eating good food, drinking too much booze, and playing card games and board games and watching football. But here we are all again, together for the most part.

I am not one for resolutions, though a few come to mind. Eat healthier. Run a half-marathon in two-hours or so. Try to pray daily. Try to read at least one substantive news article a day on law and policy. And learn patience, and come up with a plan.

And write a little something every day, or at least five times a week. We'll see. I'd like to be a writer again, journaling like I did twenty plus years ago. The only way to be a writer is to write, so I will try and see what I can do.