“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”
The rain started last night. It was loud on the roof, a sound I love. This morning the rain was light, almost misty at times, but had since gotten a bit heavier. It will be around most of the day. I was surprised when I let the dogs out at how warm it is, 50°. I do need dry dog food and dog biscuits, but I haven’t decided whether to go today or tomorrow.
When I was a kid, the tree was lit every night after Christmas through New Year’s. The smell of pine filled all of downstairs, but I knew, after New Year’s Day, the tree was doomed, destined for the trash heap. My mother thoughtfully waited until we were back in school before she undressed the tree, before she took down the ornaments and lights. It was a shock to come home to an unlit, undecorated tree standing against the wall. I remember how dark the living room looked and how naked the corner was after my father unceremoniously dumped the tree in the trash outside. I have a picture in my head of the first trash day of the new year. Trees leaned on trash cans up and down the street. Icicles blew in the wind. I felt sad.
Growing up, I never understood the hype around the new year. For me, it was the last day of vacation, not a day to celebrated. Once back in school, I had to remember to put the new year’s date on my papers. It took a few days to shake off the old year.
I don’t celebrate the new year now. I sort of just let it happen. I’ll turn a year older. My head won’t notice but my body will. I used to haul in 50 pounds of cat litter. Now I drag in 20 pounds. I always think I can do what I used to do but I can’t, but that’s okay. I get another year of trying.
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
December 30, 2024 at 7:34 pm
Hi Kat,
Today the sun was shining brightly with a warm temperature of 81°. We are back in a Marriott Residence Inn since our reconstruction has begun. It’s about time. Tomorrow, the temperature should be more seasonal.
Tonight is the fifth Chanukah candle. My daughter told us she only cares about her present. 🙂 Our present is a new dishwasher. While replacing the kitchen flooring, we might as well trash the old dishwasher that came with the house. I’m sure it’s not the original one.
Like you as a kid I always knew that on January second it was back to school. As an adult my daughter’s big concern is staying up to see the ball drop in Times Square. When the kids were little, we could fool them into thinking it was midnight when the ball drops here at eleven o’clock. It didn’t last once they learned how to tell time.
Sadly, President Jimmy Carter passed away at 100 years old. He will give Trump one last razzing. The flags at the Capital will fly at half staff for Trump’s inauguration. He was a true humanitarian. He and he and his wife Roselyn, demonstrated how to live successfully in retirement. I watched an interview with him last night on the news. He and Roselyn were building houses for humanity. He was 80 the last time he was in Dallas giving that interview. RIP, President Carter.
December 31, 2024 at 1:35 am
Hi Bob,
We stayed in the 50’s all day, warm for this time of year. I saw a weather report which said cold weather was coming, really cold weather.
I gave my mother a dishwasher as a gift one year. It was portable and had to be moved to the sink. I chose that sort as she had no space in the kitchen. Well, she ended up remodeling the whole kitchen and adding a built in dish washer. My father told me never to give her another gift before she redoes the whole house.
I don’t think I cared about staying up on New Year’s Eve to see the new year. That didn’t happen until I was older.
I love that the flags will be at half mast. Maybe that can also stand for our grief at the inauguration.
I heard Jimmy Carter described as the best former president this country has ever or will ever have. He and his wife were generous almost beyond measure.
December 31, 2024 at 5:21 pm
What people forget is that Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany by a dully elected President, Paul Hindenburg. What really worries me is that over half of the electorate voted for Trump well knowing who and what he stands for and what he’s aginst. We’ve gone a long way downward in politics in the years from Jimmy Carter until now.
“The Nazi rise to power in Germany was largely due to voters opting for what they perceived as their economic self-interest.”
https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/summer-2009-thrift-the-double-edged-virtue/who-voted-for-hitler
To everyone on Coffee, may the new year bring you health, happiness, and prosperity.
December 31, 2024 at 9:41 pm
Actually, Trump didn’t get half the votes He won 49.9% but Kamala was close behind at 48.3%. It was not the landslide the Republicans describe.
The Republican Party hasn’t had much success in the sorts of Presidents representing him especially Trump, but they get elected because they know how to rally, how to lie and tell voters exactly what they want to hear. They know name-calling works. They play to the worse traits.