Today, January 4, 2025, I declare that memorable year of 2024 over. Fini. Done. Expired. This morning, I’m bravely allowing in the sun, and playing Leonard Cohen as loudly as my state of mind requires. Soon I’ll add bits of sound from other sources. This soundscape thing is going to get me through the coming year. I declare it to be Survival Resource #1.

Next post will fill you in on the goals and plans of 2025. And they’re exciting…if a little on the dark side. But today…right now…Leonard and I putting a big fat period at the end of 2024.

I’m all caught up on blogland except for these last couple of months. Life is just basically continued existence, neither intrinsically good or bad (in which, as a devout existentialist, I am required to play a huge role). But time always moves on, until it doesn’t, even when events such as elections make one wonder for how long.  

Basically, 2024 was a good year; I hit an extra impressive age number and handled it somewhat gracefully. Retirement in the spring, twenty years or so after I began my second work-life, was way less painful than I expected. Part-time tropical son Scott came home to spend some time with Albuquerque family, during which he and I also managed some always pleasurable Minnesota days. A fine week was spent by me in Austin with Teresa and Jon as well, before my autumn month with cousins, and then with Teresa in Norway and Paris. Family and friends all busy and healthy. Me occupied and creakily healthy.

Now I would like to say…all’s well, that ends well… But, ALAS, it did not end well, this year of 2024, did it? An ageing and grossly-presenting criminal with tiny hands and an equally tiny sense of morality, as well as a miniscule knowledge of history and the world, shambled center stage in the United States of America. Enough said for now, but we’re (half the world) watching you dt, and, if our mind’s eye peers into the future, it’s not looking pretty…. And then there’s his ‘best boy’ (can’t you almost hear him introducing Musk as that…) until the roles get further and further muddied. I see a duel in their future…with the US attachment to guns, is there any reason we can’t go back to muskets at however many paces?

As I prepare to download a few photos…I realize that this is what I need to finish this year. Why am I so bloody anxious for a wrap…to get it over with. It is January 4th after all, and I’ve launched a new project, new journals…moving on…toward….

Which brings me to the last few weeks. Pleasant enough. A picture album will bring the year to a close, since I’m out of 2024 words. Saving up for 2025…. And a great good luck to us. Every living thing in the whole wide world.

Let’s start with my river and my house: Son Steven and I take a bosque walk with pooch Sunshine. Heartwarming isn’t it? A boy and his dog. And my house, just because I like it a lot. Photos and plants. Add some books and a cookie or two, and life’s good.

And friends to hang with now and then: Bob, John, and Susanna.

Christmas Eve at Grandma Scrooge’s. Lest you think we get awfully carried away with gifts for a bunch of grown-ups, I can assure you they were mostly for the dogs. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but given the pleasure Patricia and Sara find in their creatures, I decided it’s a good thing. Makes my granddaughters happy and gives them reasons to save money for a worthy cause: Luna and Kalia.

And my train for Christmas! You know…sometimes somebody does something for us that just has that touch of seriously special thought. Like they really know you…and even on occasion rather like you. So, son Steve managed to give me one of the coolest gifts I’ve ever received … And it touched upon three of my big preoccupations: travel, trains, and history. He made this fine little model which I gather took quite a lot of labor on his and Patricia’s part. Teeny little sticks and pieces and decals. It’s an earlier version of the train I took across Russia…quite possibly the main adventure of my life. I absolutely love this little moment in time and my life, right here among my books, to greet me as I walk by… Thank you Steven. Just so you know, I changed my will the next day, and the family millions are YOURS. Good job.