Welcoming 2016

I have to admit, for many years, I didn't particularly care for New Year's Eve. In fact, I found it a bit incongruous to be celebrating another year gone. It became the epitome of those nights where you lie in bed, thinking about what you should/could/would have done in any number of completely inconsequential situations. I avoided raucous parties and drunken revelry, envisioning myself as a character in some horrifying Edgar Allen Poe tale (think The Masque of Red Death).

Of course, when I was on the rescue, many New Year's Eves were quite memorable. One was spent on stand-by at a huge chicken coop fire (the coop was empty) and I recall another tending to accident victims on a treacherous, ice-covered hill. Those New Year's Eves weren't so bad; you forget your own existential angst when you're on the job and focusing on helping someone else, who might be having the worse day of their lives.

Since reaching a certain age, and maybe some level of tenuous maturity, I've been able to embrace this time of year, if not the New Year's Eve thing. I try not to reflect too much, or make false resolutions, but simply appreciate the fact that the days are now getting longer, that the home fires are warm, and that I have the comforts of wonderful friends and family. We'll go to a local inn and have a quiet but elegant dinner -- and will likely be asleep before ten o'clock. And that's OK.

I have kept one family tradition, a nod to my mother's French-Canadian heritage -- making a French meat pie on New Year's Day. My grandmother, and great-grandmother would always make a meat pie, roast a turkey and have a veritable feast while the men played cards. They didn't do too much on New Year's Eve, either.

I wish all of you a safe, happy and healthy New Year -- no matter you celebrate (or don't celebrate). This year is another chance to get it right! See you in 2016!

Searching for Inspiration

It's been difficult to find something to write about....I don't want this to get into the political arena, don't have the energy for it, but the unrelenting mass murders on the news every day are just mind-numbing and inspiration-sucking.

The house is about 80% decorated for Christmas. It feels like spring this weekend (not complaining!) so we've stalled out a bit. A teeny bit of snow would be pretty in the next week or so.

In times like this, when it's easy to get overwhelmed and cynical, usually the best things to do are to (1) get outdoors and commune with nature, and (2) do good deeds for others.

A trek to the ocean, even in winter, or a walk in the quiet New England forests will always help clear the head and soothe the soul. We're so lucky we can do either here.

Most of us are fortunate. We have a warm place to live, food to eat, and regular income. Don't forget to do something good this holiday season for those less fortunate. Your local food pantry needs food donations, to be sure, but don't forget that other items that are needed -- diapers, toiletries, feminine products, low-sodium, low-sugar or other food products for diabetics.

Let's remember our humanity.