Hold On

 It's the New Year and for some reason I am looking back instead of forward -- at least temporarily.  I am also thinking of things that I sort of miss from the past.  Plus ... I am wondering about things I used to find interesting when much younger.

Does the PA turnpike still have those ramps for run-away trucks? In all my growing up years of traveling that road, only one time did I ever see a truck stuck at the top of one of those ramps. What a thrill that must have been for that unfortunate truck driver.

Will I ever forget the hair and voice of Roseanne Roseannadanna or the sway and voice of Mamma Cass singing Monday, Monday with the "Mamas and the Papas"? (Where and Why in the world did they come up with that name for their group?) And... what about Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound of Silence?  Have you heard Disturbed's  rendition of it?  Amazing!  If you haven't, I suggest you Google or YouTube it. I suggest you close your eyes while you listen.

I have some vivid childhood memories ... and ... at the same time, I can still see my grown-up kids as children and wonder if I am actually remembering moments or revisiting photos caught in my head somewhere.

One other question running through my mind.  How is it that I have lived 76 years about 45 minutes from a Great Lake without ever knowing of weather that includes episodes of massive waves and seiche?   Seriously --  I swear I do not remember ever seeing or hearing the word seiche or the seeing photos of the  phenomenon of seiche and now recently seiche talk and photos have appeared twice within a few weeks.  Think about it - one side of a Great Lake recedes because of winds and causes twenty-five foot waves at another location????  This is nuts! I sort of wish I never heard of seiche.  I don't even like the way the word catches behind my front teeth when I say it,  and I am not sure that I am even pronouncing it correctly. Does it rhyme with quiche? Am I alone in this? Had you ever heard of this phenomenon? Please tell me no. 

Anyway -- years come and go.  Everything changes.  It's hard keeping up sometimes. No wonder we occasionally look back to things familiar... and cherish them.

Even holidays.   "... Times they are a-changin'" (Remember Bob Dylan?).   Once in awhile I speculate about this  change phenomenon.  I think it is what Time does to Living ... or.. is it what Living does to Time?

Hold on for the ride. Personally I am hopeful for 2026. It will be amazing to look back on this one.  I also think that you can look backward and forward almost at the same time.  I am doing that right now. Enough on that.  

Happy New Year!

On to the next...

 

Here we are just nine days away from Christmas and then only a week after that – the New Year! Am thinking that I am not the only one thinking that time passes very quickly -- at least sometimes. Am also thinking that I am one fortunate person...for a lot of reasons really.  Case in point...

Just one week ago my son and his family arrived and were able to spend a long weekend with me. My daughter and her family (who live in the same town as I) were able to join in as well. Perfect! Such all-together times are rare. (I love having all my chicks under my apron -- if only for a few marvelous days.)  So fun – a little nuts off and on -- but wonderful all the way around.  For one thing, they surprised me with having arranged for a family photo session – something I have wanted to do for a long time.  Unfortunately, it was a breezy and damp 36º and a bit muddy as we headed through the clumpy pasture -- dotted here and there with patches of slippery snow. Someone thought my old red barn would make the perfect backdrop for the photos.  (I forgive that person. They were right, after all.)  We all survived and although we were coatless for the trek and the photo shoot, no one can see the shivers in the still photos.  All in all, it went just fine and the photographer (Thank you, Barb! - of Be Inspired Photography) was fantastic – managing the 8 of us well… which … had to have been akin to "herding cats" or "being confined in a room with a bunch of wild ferrets".  My family can be somewhat uncontrollable and unpredictable when we are together.  I love that about us. I think we are fun. Anyway – the "sneak peek" photos turned out beyond great.  Can hardly wait to get them all … think I will try to make one of those photo books for each branch of the fam. Update -- was able to download all the photos last evening.  Can you "see" me smiling?  I am. Most definitely.

Anyway - now onward to 2022… hope it will be a new beginning of a better time for all. I am going to try to look forward with just an occasional looking back. I mean -- we all learned a few things during the past couple of years and I may need to touch base once in a while just so I am reminded of all the important lessons I learned. Then there are the important times that need to be remembered ... and ... family times are, obviously, #1 in the important category. Then again -- now that I think of it -- good friends should be included in that category as well. Yes ... Family and Friends -- gifts both. They make up the most important circles of life -- each of us has such circles ... at least one. I cherish them.  Am thinking that you do as well.

Anyway – I wish you all a lovely holiday season and New Year. I hope that you have people with whom to share these times - family and/or friends.  We have all come through the past couple of years and...  survived many challenges.  We cannot give up now.  Right?

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!