There’s snow on the ground with rain likely over the next couple of days, but for now it feels sort of Christmas-like.
For New Year’s 2008, the grandkids and I had a high old time in Newport, including Awful-Awfuls at the Newport Creamery, swimming at the Y, a boat trip to Rose Island, a really nice lunch at the Atlantic Beach Club, and fireworks. Thanks to a break in the weather, we got to Milton and back safely.
This year, kind friends and family have extended no fewer than four invites for Christmas day, but I can’t drum up much enthusiasm. Thanksgiving was a “downer” without Carolyn and now Christmas and New Year’s, probably the last in Milton, will forever be incomplete.
Last year, I was in a pressure cooker of a job, and if I knew then what I know now, I’d have left on day one, peacefully and with my hands in the air.
This year, I’m just looking forward to The Holidays being over, not because of any particular antipathy to ersatz Winter Solstice celebrations, but because I am sick of 2008 and want to bid the whole mess good riddance. I don’t even care if 2009 is a time of deep economic gloom. Anything has to be better than this year was.