Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Flat End of the Year

Post-Xmas, things slow down a bit for the last hoorahs of the old year. I'm crawling along in first gear here. Four days of friends stopping by was wonderful but tiring, and it's not over (there are still 6 Muffinpants family members and 3  iBrattleboro-related people to see). I'm glad for the break. The "just keep drinking til it's over" technique of coping is long gone, with nothing to take its place. So I guess that means I'm finally an adult. It was much easier to just meander through the holidays in a stupor.

As nice as this Yuletide has been, I think next year will be different. Maybe I'll go down to Billy's for the week. He ended up alone and I feel bad. Chiefy went to a family do instead of going out to dinner with him. And now it's looking like Chiefy and the Bensonhurst Bomber won't be buying a house in Florida, and Billy won't move there by himself. Florida is a pit anyway and I've been hoping they wouldn't. So, yeah, next year in Jersey! Maybe I'll get Billy to decorate and take the opportunity to help him weed out all the mountains of Xmas stuff Mac had bought and stored over the years, and maybe even go into the city or have people over to his house. We'll see.

And here comes 2015. In 2015, I'll have lived in Vermont for 20 years, Ian will be dead 20 years, and I'll go into my 5th year of living in The Shire. The Shire itself will be going through changes, as the new housing complex will be built to house most of the population that the government doesn't want living in the flood plain. I'm hoping to avoid living in this new building (which I'll call Red Rover) and waiting for the 2nd, smaller development to develop. It'll be rotten to leave this place when it finally happens, but it's inevitable. Old people and gimps aren't welcome where flooding occurs, so out we go. One way or another, 2015 will be my last whole year in The Shire. Every year brings changes.

There's a lot of good in 2014 to look back at, and a lot of bad, like every year. People left and people entered, things happened that impacted everything from my little home to my whole country. Years do seem to go by faster the older I get. Someone said that's because when you're 20, 5 years is a quarter of your life but at 60 it's just a twelfth. It's perspective. Days roll on, things happen, you keep going. Before we know it, Summer will be back. Pretty soon I'll be shopping for next year's Yuletide gifts. And we'll still, I'm sure, be waiting for George RR Martin's next book.

So here's to us and 2015. Let's make it unforgettable. Cheers! x


10 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I hope your year to come is full of love and laughter and that the good outweighs (by a huge margin) the bad.
I am loving that perspective about why time has speeded up too. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Every year has a little good and a little bad.....let's hope for 2015 the bad is VERY little. Happy New Year!

MunirGhiasuddin said...

I wish you and your loved ones a very happy New Year. It is very nice to see your posts.

Geo. said...

Indeed, Austan, here's to 2015! I shall try my best to remember to make it unforgettable but, most of all, here's to you!

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

The good thing is that you are already planning for the 2015 holidays. Having optimism is a wonderful way to begin the new year.

It is always nice to hear from you, Laura.

Arleen

MoonRaven said...

Wow, twenty years in Vermont and five years at The Shire. I think it was seven years ago that we got together and you treated me to a veggie burger when I was doing my short stay in the Green Mountain State.

I hope you do have a very happy new year and thanks for all that you do. May 2015 bring us all welcome changes.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Wow, it sounds like somebody is feeling introspective. Happy New Year, kiddo. We just got home from visiting friends in Tennessee, and we were too busy playing games, running our mouths and laughing to engage in much introspection. (or sleeping) Long gone are the days of getting all dressed up to see in a new year. Know what? I like the new way better... our sweatshirts were clean, anyhow, HA!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

klahanie said...

Hi Laura,

Such a mixed year in 2014. Pure evil demonstrated by our governments and the pureness of a kinder humanity to counteract such evil.

A happy, hopeful New Year to you and your loved ones, dear Laura.

Gary :)
x

Rory Grant said...

Hey Laura - just checking all is well in your reality. Missing your incisive, insightful observations on your blog.

All the best!

Rory

Anonymous said...

Hi Laura...thought I'd just pop in and see how you're doing. Hope so far 2015 has been busy and happy.