Happy New Year! It’s time to celebrate!

Perhaps we should celebrate not only the beginning of a New Year, but, also, the many other daily occasions that we take for granted. Therefore, let’s all pause, take a breath, relax a bit and begin the New Year noticing all the people, places and things that surround us.

Oh, did we have a terrific holiday family gathering! For some of us, such family times happen frequently during the year, and, for some of us, the family coming together times are less frequent. However, there is joy in every reunion and we must celebrate those precious moments. One of the rituals we have at our family holiday gathering is the reading of Clement C. Moore’s book “The Night Before Christmas”. During the reading, the group chimes in to end some of the sentences. Needless to say, some of the endings are hilarious! I celebrate that cherished moment every year.

At our local library, one of the staff stopped to chat with me for a bit. We had a fun conversation during which I discovered we have a common interest. We shared stories of our walks along the river, and how we enjoy seeing and listening to the voices of nature. I look forward to a future walk with that staff member, and will enjoy the hike and the exchange of thoughts.

The new year will also provide us the opportunity to try some new beverages. I was gifted a bottle of Vallepicciola Chianti Classico – a Tuscan wine. I didn’t wait to offend the family member who gave it to me so, please know, the bottle is already half empty. A Chianti is always so pleasing and this brand did not disappoint me. A nice medium bodied wine full of blackberry flavors with hints of spice and vanilla – from the initial sip to the finish, it’s delicious! I might have to celebrate by getting another bottle of that wine.

A social gathering is a perfect way to connect and converse. It’s through these encounters that we will all grow. Yes, there may always be the same folks in the gathering, but we learn more about each other every time we come together. That’s a positive, folks! How about joining a book club and discuss how the book’s theme interacts with your daily life? But, remember, to always have fun.

Let us never forget to celebrate nature. It binds us together, sustains us and offers us quiet and peace. All it asks for in return is for us to respect it.

And speaking about respect, let us never ignore each other. Every one of us is a celebration. Ever one of us loves to laugh. We all deserve to be treated with respect and decency – no matter where we came from.

Now, it’s time for a glass of Chianti, so please excuse me as I bring this rendering to a close.

May you celebrate all year long!

As always, eat and drink in moderation, but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!