2017, Out With The Old, In With The New

A New Year

Granddaughter Mimi in Our Town

With 2017, a new year here, we look back on 2016. It’s been a tumultuous year, marked by a wild American election, Brexit, the Syrian refugee crisis and rising concerns about climate change. We also lost some well-loved celebrities. Because of all that and more, it wasn’t an easy year. I’ve heard many journalists say they were glad 2016 was on its way out.

But it was also a year that promised new horizons through space travel, electric cars, and cures for Alzheimer’s, cancer, and multiple sclerosis.

In fact, our family sat around the dinner table on New Year’s Eve discussing other positives in the past year. We noted that gay marriage was accepted and legalized in more places. The indigenous populations in both Canada and the USA became more vocal with their concerns and were heard like they hadn’t been before. Marijuana was legalized in many states and accepted as a drug that could help rather than hurt. For many, it lessens pain and anxiety. And though racism reared its ugly head, we became more conscious of how far we have yet to go. There is hope here as well that we can put aside our differences and live in peace and harmony.

2017 New Year’s Resolutions

With the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, it’s natural to do an inner check and plan on some changes. I’m planning on scaling back my involvement in social media. Much as I like the Twitter buzz and the Facebook updates from friends and family, I end up spending too much time checking out videos, reading quotes, etc. All lovely, but it’s time I could be devoting to my writing projects and reading. So, that’s one of my resolutions. To lessen the time spent on these sites. Whether I’ll be able to follow through remains to be seen.

Lukia

I’ve also decided to re-write Lukia, my grandmother’s story and weave myself into it, much like the author, Amy Tan, did in her novel, Joy Luck Club. I had tried before but gave up because I couldn’t come up with a satisfying ending. I’ve since figured it out and have started the re-writes.

I’m also hoping to get it published sometime in 2017. But again, I don’t know. Hope is like that.

Along Came A Gardener

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Blessings at This Time of Year

Rob and I have been blessed to have a wonderful Christmas. Our two daughters, one son-in-law (the other was performing in It’s A Wonderful Life for Soulpepper) and three grandchildren have been celebrating the holidays with us.

The photo on his page is one from Our Town, a Thornton Wilder play that Soulpepper produced in 2011. The little girl waving is our granddaughter, Mimi. I like to think she’s waving good-bye to the old year as well.

A Very Happy New Year!

And if you have any resolutions you’d like to share, I’d love to read them. I wish you a wonderful New Year, one of peace and joy and hope.

Related posts:

Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men A Year of Unexpected Delights and Frustrations! Along Came A Gardener From My Vantage Point The World Is Promising

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