Once again, I can report a terrible (at the same time that it was good) movie viewing situation last night. Escape from Pretoria. Predictably, it was terrifying. Three anti-apartheid activists, planning an escape from prison in Pretoria. Based on a true story. Did they make it?? Listen, if I had to white knuckle my way through that film, then you do too! I'm not going to spoil it for you! Suffice it to say that many things do not go according to plan, causing panic in both the escapees and me!
Tonight, we are definitely going easy on the drama. After all, it's New Year's Eve.
* * *
New Year's Eve.
A dusting of morning snow. Not much, but very pretty nonetheless!
(looks like the chickens are having a meeting)
(just a touch of snow...)
We finish the leftover baked goods for breakfast. Clean the kitchen of old stuff. Isn't that what you're supposed to do on the last day of the year? To start with a clean slate tomorrow?
* * *
I pause for a few minutes to read the paper. Not necessarily the serious stuff. There's an article about the proliferation of great ethnic restaurants in big cities all over the world. Nothing new in this piece and I don't necessarily agree with all the points the author makes, but still, I like thinking and learning about good food so I'm glad I read it. Then I get to the comments section. OMG. So harsh! Criticism abounds! Privileged! Elitist! Behind the times! Insensitive! Stay home and eat brats! On and on. I say to Ed -- we are such a confused nation. We hate wealth. We idolize superstar athletes. We aspire to wealth. We hate other people's riches. We love some people's riches. We hate taxes. We hate the government. We hate capitalism. We hate socialism. We hate other people's hobbies and interests. We disparage their views. And it all comes out in a silly article about the proliferation of ethnic cuisine in big cities worldwide.
Ed always laughs when I groan at the animosity in the reactions to writing about something that is innocuous and maybe a little esoteric. He tells me -- in fermenting chaos, we come to new ideas. You know what Churchill said -- Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once they have tried everything else. [There is no documentation that Churchill actually said that, but the sentiment isn't out of line with his views, which essentially were full of admiration for the American way of going about life.]
Fine, but I'll never understand why people read stuff that riles them up this much. If you dont like articles about food and travel, why bother reading them? I'm not a fan of team sports. Believe me, I spend zero time thinking or reading about who won where and for what reason. Or perhaps Ed is right? Perhaps I should engage more with stuff that bores me? Perhaps I'm not contributing enough to the ferment out there?
* * *
It is time to take down the tree. I love it so much and I have loved everything that accompanied it this year, but it's been up since December 1st and tomorrow we start in on January.
I will miss it, that's for sure.
But so long as it is there, I will be stuck in a holiday mood. Time to say good bye and move on.
* * *
We go for a walk along a Nature Conservancy trail.
It's quiet and beautiful. A little wild, a little muddy but nonetheless exquisitely beautiful. Not unlike the year gone by, huh?
(you can tell how the wind blew last night...)
(watching to make sure we don't invade her field...)
* * *
I prepare a meal for the young family. It's a tradition: pasta with sea food in a white wine sauce. In addition to the shrimp, fish and scallops, I throw in two small lobster tails split into 4 pieces. For the grownups. Honestly, two of the three young eaters are just in it for the spaghetti.
[While fixing it, I put on, at long last, Love Actually -- it's leaving Prime streaming at midnight! There isn't a sweeter, goofier, holiday compilation of love stories in film anywhere!]
Here they come! The gang, bringing in the tail end of 2024!
(hats and noisemakers for all)
(they're dressed up because they've just come from a wedding)
(well, not everyone's dressed up!)
(dinner)
(Ed is out tending to the chickens so I do a timed release...)
Happy New Year!
* * *
In the late evening, Ed and I turn on the TV. No movie search tonight. Our track record hasn't been too cheerful in that department. Instead, we turn on the most recent episode of Just a Few Acres -- a report on the farming activities of a cattle and chicken farmer in upstate New York. It is about as low key as you can get: sometimes the episodes are about nothing more than plowing a field or repairing a tractor. Today's was about the local farmers market.
Low key endings set the stage for wonderful new starts, dont you think? As you know, I don't set myself up for failure in the New Year. I dont aim big, I don't resolve to change much. Tweaks here and there. More walks, more oatmeal for breakfast! Listen, learn, stay happy, because, well, it rubs off on others. I'm thrilled to have made it to 2025 and I'm so grateful to have so many good people in my life.
It's such a nice number. 2025. I hope it's good year for all of you. Be good to yourselves and kind to those around you. Happy, happy New Year!
With so much love...
