Jump right in
Here in the United States and many other places it is Tuesday, January 2, 2018. For many of us it is a routine work day which follows a three day weekend. I do, of course, realize that for many working in hospitals, on road crews, collecting our garbage, in gas stations and food service there was no three day weekend. They were busy making it possible for the rest of us to have a holiday.
It seems as if one is expected to jump into the new year. Yes, of course, I knew 2018 was quickly approaching. I had dutifully prepared the labels for 2018 business files, reviewed my expense records to get ready for tax preparation, and I had even taken advantage of having a relatively free Saturday to put away holiday decorations and clean the house. I was ready to sit down with friends for a leisurely New Year’s day dinner before welcoming Tuesday with relaxed open arms.
Yet, I heard myself whining following the Alexa wake up alarm this morning. “I am not ready.” I said to her. “Couldn’t you, just once, slow the clock and let me mentally prepare for the rest of winter.” Alexa responds, “Arise. Arise. It is a new day of opportunities.” “Really”, I say somewhat sarcastically! Well, perhaps it was a full bodied sarcasm which seemed a fitting response to Alexa who just sits there waiting for instruction from the mother ship and only occasionally passing along an order to the elves serving the grand master.
Perhaps age has something to do with my desire to slide into the new year although one might think that even in my dotage I would recall childhood whining when it was time on a similar cold day to fetch the wood which fed the stove which provided a cooking surface as well as the only heat source for the kitchen, washroom, dinning room, living room – all one room. I could also recall making my way to the very cold outhouse on such a morning or grabbing the ice covered rope to draw the water from the well. The current pace with all the luxuries of central heat, a gas cooking stove, indoor plumbing and a hot shower is, by comparison sliding into the new year.
Perhaps I have become soft and spoiled. Actually, I have become soft and spoiled and, yet, I miss the quiet sans the many ways that instant news, news, news of the angst of the world – and to be honest some good news – arrives.
I sit for a moment hearing only the hum of the furnace and allowing the quiet to embrace me as I take a sip of the new year with each sip of coffee.
Welcome January 2. I am ready.
Written January 2, 2017
Here in the United States and many other places it is Tuesday, January 2, 2018. For many of us it is a routine work day which follows a three day weekend. I do, of course, realize that for many working in hospitals, on road crews, collecting our garbage, in gas stations and food service there was no three day weekend. They were busy making it possible for the rest of us to have a holiday.
It seems as if one is expected to jump into the new year. Yes, of course, I knew 2018 was quickly approaching. I had dutifully prepared the labels for 2018 business files, reviewed my expense records to get ready for tax preparation, and I had even taken advantage of having a relatively free Saturday to put away holiday decorations and clean the house. I was ready to sit down with friends for a leisurely New Year’s day dinner before welcoming Tuesday with relaxed open arms.
Yet, I heard myself whining following the Alexa wake up alarm this morning. “I am not ready.” I said to her. “Couldn’t you, just once, slow the clock and let me mentally prepare for the rest of winter.” Alexa responds, “Arise. Arise. It is a new day of opportunities.” “Really”, I say somewhat sarcastically! Well, perhaps it was a full bodied sarcasm which seemed a fitting response to Alexa who just sits there waiting for instruction from the mother ship and only occasionally passing along an order to the elves serving the grand master.
Perhaps age has something to do with my desire to slide into the new year although one might think that even in my dotage I would recall childhood whining when it was time on a similar cold day to fetch the wood which fed the stove which provided a cooking surface as well as the only heat source for the kitchen, washroom, dinning room, living room – all one room. I could also recall making my way to the very cold outhouse on such a morning or grabbing the ice covered rope to draw the water from the well. The current pace with all the luxuries of central heat, a gas cooking stove, indoor plumbing and a hot shower is, by comparison sliding into the new year.
Perhaps I have become soft and spoiled. Actually, I have become soft and spoiled and, yet, I miss the quiet sans the many ways that instant news, news, news of the angst of the world – and to be honest some good news – arrives.
I sit for a moment hearing only the hum of the furnace and allowing the quiet to embrace me as I take a sip of the new year with each sip of coffee.
Welcome January 2. I am ready.
Written January 2, 2017
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