New Year, New Plans, New Ideas

A week under the wings as we all huddle our noses from the nippy airand move forward. I have a jar started in which I place a new idea or thought…or even happening each day and will look back on it on December 31st and decide if I fared well or not in 2025. It’s starting off on two left feet…but at least I am still standing upright… however I have a feeling it just might be a challenging year. All things set aside, I am so grateful for the multitude of blessings in my life…even though ’25 is only 6 days old! Like the cowboys say, tighten up the cinch and hang on! We might be in for a ride!

On the bright side of matters, my New Year started off on the right foot…and I sent to the Jam Session and pounded on the keyboard like I knew what I was doing. It was great to see old friends and new faces at the dance. It is the one day I try to do something for me ~ yeah, what an odd thing to do but it is worth it. I left early and went to have birthday cake with my granddaughter, Sidney and her Dad, Scott. She turned seven and he…well…he turned a bit older. Oh, maybe that’s how this aging thing goes…they grow older and in turn drag us along!

Reflecting back on the olden, golden year of 2024, I am sure we all grew a little wiser so we have that to stick in our hat. The ranchers learned how to ration grazing and hay bales as well. The farmers learned utilization of soil moisture and appreciated the youth labor on the land.

There are those that appreciated growing old ~ a privilege denied many.

In…and bright, sparkling and dapper, the youth stepped into 2025 by holding the Snow Ball. As I mentioned to Mr. Bleth as I walked by a handful of stunning young people, after seeing them in sweats, uniforms and “casual” attire, “Talk about a transformation!”

And all of a sudden these “young” people are growing up ~ I had to resort to the programs over the weekend to see who the players were…as the song goes…”Turn around, turn around”…Where are you going my little one, little one?” The transformation and growth is wonderful to see what these ones have for potential.

At the Saturday morning breakfast of the Red Hatters, discussion at a point was on things we used to do, perhaps the terminology was something like … when we were younger, more adventurous and dangerous (or dumber) and had the world by the tail and before us. We can remember old fashioned sleds and sleds made from old car hoods. I recall a sister in law riding on a hood and of course we stayed out until we were replicas of statues in ice, and she couldn’t feel her legs. When we called it quits, she changed out of her snowsuit and found she had cut her leg…probably early into the venture…and fortunately the cold helped. When she warmed, it bled…quite well, I must say! Oh the joys of the good ‘ol days.

The last week of 2024 and this first week of 2025 have been a test of patience and understanding. There have been so, so many come down with cancer and heart issues. As we all say a prayer for the nation, let’s not overlook or forget our locals in need of help as well. Check on your neighbor and the elderly, you might be the only one that does.

Keep your stick on the ice, play fair….and smile!