There will really not be much difference between today and tomorrow, except a number, or maybe the weather. But somehow when a new year begins, we feel the need to enumerate events over the past year. I'm certainly no different.
We started and ended with health issues. John was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and underwent successful treatment with radiation. In December, an MRI showed that he had a torn rotator cuff, and he is scheduled for repair next month.
Travel occupied a large part of the year. We went to the Four Corners area and New Mexico again. And to the beach, as usual. We took two river trips: on the Delta Queen, from Chattanooga to Memphis on the Tennessee River; and on the River Explorer from Nashville to Nashville on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. An unforgettable experience was our trip with Ann and Al to Prague, Budapest, and Vienna - what wonderful historic cities. We made two trips to Texas - in January to see Betsy, and in November to Houston for my 50th class reunion at Rice.
Transition and change are constant. Randy changed jobs after more than 20 years. Sue, Margaret, and Kate are experiencing empty nests. Jean quit smoking. Andy and Sarah graduated from high school and started college. Paul graduated from college and is job hunting. Matt asked Amanda to marry him (she accepted) and they started their senior year in college. Alison continues to work on her PhD and raise jellyfish. Jesse finished his first year in the Navy and reported to his ship in Norfolk. Our friend, David, gave up his long fight and left us.
I have chosen to keep this personal and to avoid local, national, and international events of the year. Certainly, the TV and internet will enumerate those events, ad nauseum.
Much will remain the same next year. And we'll have to wait to see what transitions and changes occur over the next twelve months. One thing we know for sure, "W" will no longer be President, and for this we will be eternally grateful!
Today's picture is a detail from one of this year's paintings, "#83".
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