Do I take a curtain call? Or do I subtly disappear without an encore?
The old year is fading quickly but not fast enough.. It was, arguably, the worst year of my life. I was relentlessly plagued with serious personal issues and even more serious health problems - - things which are so bad that I wouldn't dare reveal them on a public blog.
I try to ignore the worst and desperately dig through the mire to find reasonably tolerable things to write about. It isn't easy. I'm not very adept at feigning normalcy when I'm enmeshed in the depths of severe depression. But I plod on.....
....but I've said enough. Or, more likely, too much. Where can I possibly take you, after such a dismal beginning?
How about this crazy weather?
Last week when I drove to town it was 30 degrees (Fahrenheit) and there was ice on the windshield. Two days later, on Christmas Eve, the temperature soared to a balmy 65 degrees.
This final week of the year was unseasonably warm with high winds one day and torrential rain the next. Severe storms are predicted to usher in the New Year along with a drastic temperature drop.
I'm not looking forward to bad weather...nor another year.
So, what will I be doing on New Year's Eve? Nothing much. Exchanging emails and texts with a few faraway friends. And partying with my cats.
It's a heckuva lot different from long-ago New Year's Eves - when I used to cook elaborate meals that took days to prepare, and bake wonderful pies, cakes, and cookies. When I actually looked forward to a new year with (cautious) optimism.
The good memories haunt me.
And now? The illusion that somehow things will get better no longer exists.
"Cautious" is the key word. Diehard pessimists are notoriously cautious.
So, what about this New Year's Eve? I was initially going to make a roast, but I'll save it for next week. Instead, I plan to have a quasi-smorgasbord - - sausage, cheese, egg rolls, pickled eggs, smoked oysters, potato pancakes..... homemade wine.
I took some photos this final week of the year. Nothing exciting. Just the same old views outside around the house.
Dawn on a windswept morning a few days agoThe cluster of tall trees by my house....and the horrible gap where several of them blew down during the tornadic storm a few weeks ago.
A misty, balmy, surrealistic evening on Dec. 29th. Silhouette of nearby hills, as seen from the front porch.
Various views from my front "yard", taken late yesterday afternoon Dec. 30th
Why the hell would anyone want to see me? Photo taken last month. I set the ten second timer on my El Cheapo digital camera - then ran like a bunny, sat on the porch swing, and tried to look pretty. NOT an easy task....
I think my cat Kitzee got into the homemade wine....(*smile*)
There’s no denying it, Jon, you have had a crappy year with health, house, weather, car issues. As a blogger friend, who has never wavered in enjoying your posts, yes even the satirically honest ones, It’s been difficult to offer any comfort just in a comment. In this post, you mentioned exchanging emails with distant friends. If you want to add a new one, you can contact me at my blog email.
ReplyDeleteYour year end celebration sounds similar to my own. Grenville and I will toast all our friends, and you are among them. We’re also doing a movie marathon of 3 films with a similar theme of lovers reuniting at the top of the Empire State building (can you name them?)
BTW your views on this continuing pandemic panic are shared by many others. It’s looking like an un-happy new year as of now. But, I hope it improves.
Well, we made another year. As bad as some years have been, I can still think of a few things each year that were good, but it does seem to get harder doesn't it? These pictures are good to end the year on...I like ending the years on a peaceful note. One year, I'd like to end the year with a walk in the woods, just me walking my dog under a starry sky.
ReplyDeleteBut were here.
Happy New Year's Tidings Jon.
I agree, another year come and gone - not the greatest. I am having a low-key New Year's Eve and New Year's day. Just spending a quiet evening at home with my mom and the kitties. No complaints, works for me! lol
ReplyDeleteCurrently cleaning the house and will probably throw something together later on for dinner. Nothing exciting.
You've no idea how 'worst year of your life' resonates. Were it not for you and several other blog friends (and my son) I'd be a raving lunatic -- or a manic depressive. Take your pick. I strongly suspect Tom has the beginnings of dementia; I don't know that we're going to stay together much longer ... and don't really care. Tonight? I'm still comforted by long-ago memories of formalwear and champagne, dancing 'til the early hours. Meanwhile, there's always pistachios!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, by the way.
I hope this will be a better year. 2021 was a hard one here, too. I can't imagine 65 degrees! It's -12 degrees here right now and that's the expected high. -27 degrees tonight...can't imagine what the wind chill will be. We've had wind chill warnings for days. I hope you have a healthier year and you stay safe and warm this winter. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are a fine-looking man. I do hope you have a better year in 2021.
ReplyDelete1922, that's supposed to be. Sorry about that.
DeleteI hope you will have a better year in 2022. The woods and sky all around your house makes for some pretty pictures. The picture of your kitty stretched out enjoying being a cat was cute. You look really good in your cowboy hat. I really like seeing pictures of fellow bloggers.
ReplyDeleteMy past 3 years have not been too much fun with the various health problems I've had, but I may be off to a better start this year. My retinal problem has finally healed and the huge gas bubble the retinal surgeon put in it to help heal the surgical incision has finally gone away just this morning. I can see again without having a big black circle inside my eye. Maybe 2022 is going to be a better year for all of us. I hope so.
Take care. Happy 2022!