Saying Goodbye to 2012

Well, it’s already 2013 in other parts of the world, and our turn is coming in a few hours.  I’ve spent the last few days thinking about the past year and all that has happened, and wondering how to improve our lot for the coming year.  Tomorrow is really just a date, but we tend to attach significance to it.  We use it as a new starting point for change I guess.

This time last year, I was still a husband, not a widower.  There’s no changing that, or at least I have no desire to find another wife and try to change my status.  If  the day ever comes, it won’t be this year I’m sure!

This time last year, Bradley was doing well, and there were no drugs in his life, and he was attending school and making good grades.  i’ve been seeing some hopeful signs of improvement, and also some signs of relapse a few times.  I remain convinced that at some point, he will come through the dark days.  Maybe he will use tomorrow as a benchmark of change also.

This time last year, I had no back pain.  It’s better, I think I will be back to work sometime this month. That would be a relief, just to be back to work and not have to worry about whether or not the bills will be met each month.

There have been good moments in the past year, to be sure.  On November 26th, my third grandson Grant Kalale Frazier graced us with his presence.  He had his two older brothers are always good for cheering up a cloudy day.

Our Christmas was one of the best in memory, All of my kids were under one roof for an entire day, laughing and enjoying each other’s company, playing with grandchildren and having a wonderful time.

I don’t really want anything extraordinary for the coming year.  I just want us to come together as a family and stay strong together.  I want my kids to be healthy and happy. 

Financial success is not as important to me as the other things.  I can always find a way to take care of the necessities of life if nothing else.  But things don’t matter to me as much as the people in my life.  As I’ve said before, they can be taken from you in the blink of an eye, so the time we have together is infinitely precious to me. 

Hmm, looking over what I typed it looks as though I’m down and depressed, and that’s not the case.  I merely feel a bit reflective today.  About to go to the grocery store and buy for a New Year’s Eve dinner.   I have to have my black eyed peas for luck.  It’s an old Southern tradition, dating to the civil war.  When northern soldiers burned Georgia, the only crop not burned were the peas, because that was used for feeding cattle.  The Sourtherners were reduced to eating them to help them survive that winter.  Since then, it’s tradition to eat them for New Year’s for luck.  If you ever see or hear a reference to cow peas, they’re the same as black eyed peas.  I think I’m going to bake a ham, and make a salad to go with our dinner, start the day out right.   Tonight we have a get together with friends for the New Year, and tomorrow we begin our journey to see what that year brings. 

For all of you, I hope it brings peace, happiness and fulfillment.  So from waaaay down here in Texas, Happy New Year, Ya’ll!