Happy New Year

A single, old-fashioned Christmas light shines brightly against the winter woods,
framed perfectly by the porch railings of the cabin.

That photograph is one of my favorites from the Christmas holidays. I took it on Christmas Eve at the cabin, mid-afternoon, just before the rain started. It was a cold, gray day, but I was happy, toasting pecans in the oven, and preparing to head over to Mama's house for the family festivities. I never got around to sharing it with you during the holidays so I decided to use it today. For me it captures the slight melancholy that I feel now that we must return to normal. The lights are out. The parties are over. Work looms on Monday. I'm a little sad to see it all end.

Time to turn our view to the future. It's a new year. And a new decade. Rather than looking back, we can look forward to a fresh year with a fresh start. Maybe you've set some resolutions for yourself. I think it's in vogue now to say that you don't do New Year's resolutions. But I do. I'm always setting goals for myself and trying to improve in this area or that. It's just my nature. And of course, I fail a lot and have to start over. Or adjust my expectations. But still, I like setting goals and thinking about what I want for myself and others in the future. I won't bore you with all the details of my 2010 resolutions. Suffice it to say that I continue to pursue good health and happiness. And I wish the same for you.

A friend of mine posted the following quote on her Facebook page on New Year's Day. I liked it a lot. I hope you do too. Happy New Year, friends.

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.
~Henry Ward Beecher~