Preparations

One of my first preparations is trying to get rid of the old and bring in the new between Christmas and the new year. I’m a little bit behind on that this year, to say the least. New Year’s Eve has often been a bittersweet thing for me. Right now, looking back through the year standing at the very edge, I can remember clearly and see how vast this year was. But I know by spring of next year, it will seem like a short, small blur. That’s how it happens every year!

A strange calm often comes over me when I think about turbulent times that have passed. It’s almost reassuring to know that you can always count on the ebb and flow of life. This year, something very special washed up on my shores. I won’t talk about it too much, but I feel for the first time in a long while, there is something lighting me up from the inside out. Funny how that happens when you least expect it.

As with most years, I have high hopes for 2016. I have things to fight for and people to see. Not only will that add a little fun travel to this place, but I’m keeping fingers crossed and breath held that it will bring another addition to my life.

There’s a lot of time for that, though. I don’t want to start kicking myself to get things done before the year has even started. Maybe tomorrow I’ll sleep in and not feel guilty about it? No, I don’t believe it, either.

I’ll be annoying my friends and family by carrying my camera in tow everywhere this evening, as usual. I can’t help but want to document these moments. That way, when the grass is green and the snow is gone, this year won’t seem like such a quick burst of life. I’ll have photographs to spread 2015 out into the year it was. The year I went to a line dancing club (and couldn’t dance), the year my friend and I spent almost every day together over the summer, the year I found new ways to love.

Happy 2016 everyone! I’m off to venture through the neighborhood with my dogs for the last sunset of 2015.