When one door closes, a window opens. That’s how I feel every year at this time. Nostalgic. Heavy headed. Melancholy. Reflective of times long past. Like it’s the end of something big, yet the small start of something better. I can’t remember me being more optimistic about the coming year than I am right now. And I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the sudden realization that Anna is getting older and I will have to make some adjustments to my life. Maybe it’s the finality of a relationship that is propelling me to move forward. Maybe it’s the political environment that is leading me to believe we are in for better things. Maybe it’s the continuous support of friendships, both new and old, that leave me so optimistic. I don’t know.
I find myself going through old pictures, and listening to old songs, and looking up the meaning of the words ‘auld lang syne’ to see if it really means what I think it does. It’s watching Christmas movies with Anna and listening to her talk about her future plans and school and friends and boys and sports and all that a 17 year old loves to talk about. It’s watching her grow up. It’s hearing her laugh from upstairs while playing Fort Nite. It’s simply, realizing the passage of time and being comfortable with it and mentally making some much needed changes for the year ahead. And it’s pretty exciting.
This gem of a picture is from sometime in the late ’70’s of me and my brothers and sisters. I’m on the far left, with the typewriter. I look at how happy we were, our awesome clothes and the cool presents that were so of the times (I mean, a record player that only plays 45’s!). And it makes me happy and sad all at the same time for times long past. Auld Lang Syne, indeed.
Here’s to a fabulous 2019. It’s gonna be a good one. I just know it.
With love from Grand Haven,
Julie