Since I started writing this blog,
I've hit my self-imposed deadline of Monday morning every week. Well, it
wouldn't be titled "Monday Morning Musings" if I posted on Tuesday,
would it? This week, I missed the morning part. Instead, today was a day to
celebrate Christmas with my grandchildren. Oh, sure, husband, daughter, and
son-in-law were there, too. It's just such a delight in celebrating with young
children. Consequently, my priorities shifted today and the blog took second
place.
There is something about the week
after Christmas that makes us look back on the year. Newspapers do a year in
review, television news reports do entire segments on it. Perhaps it's that sense
of ending that causes us to reflect on the immediate past.
Like many people, my husband and I
put together a letter summarizing the past year for our far-flung friends and
family. To do that, we start with the same old question "where did the
year go?" We try to put a positive spin on the events—nobody wants to read
doom and gloom during the holiday season. There have been years that weren't so
good. The three years in a row when we lost a close family member or when the
job market took a nose dive carrying one of us with it. Despite those events,
there were good times like the birth of a grandchild or milestone birthdays. We figure it's a plus when we're
still alive and kicking.
In 2011, the world took some weird
turns. The aforementioned news programs will be sure to concentrate on war,
revolutions, natural disasters, and so many other tragedies that it feels as if
the only thing to be grateful for is that the year is over. Gee, what would
happen if they only reported the good? Maybe nobody would believe it.
Besides celebrating that my children
and grandchildren are happy, that we're all fairly healthy, that we have extended
family and good friends who care about us, I'm happy that this year my writing
career got back on track. Thanks to advice from other writers, I found a way to
give new life to a book that I thought was over. That encouraged me to finish
the sequel and renewed my enthusiasm for other stories that were languishing in
my computer. Consequently, I'm looking forward to the new year and new
opportunities.
I hope as you look back on 2011 you
will find good things to celebrate.
Diane,
ReplyDeleteLoved this post and the one before that. Today I'm playing catch up reading them. The flu really did a number on our family this year. The last 'man' standing, my youngest son, recovered from his bout just this morning.
Guess that's what makes this post resonate with me. Yes, everyone in our family was sick at one time or another this past couple of weeks. But, we all recovered our health quite quickly and, like you, I'm looking forward to everything new and exciting in the coming year.
BTW - Loved your comment that the new girlfriend can see the house in all of its glorious mess - NEXT time! Well said.
Glad to hear you & family are recovered from the flu. What a way to spend the holidays. I hope the neew year brings good things for you.
ReplyDelete