A new year, a new adventure.

Wow, so here it is, 2005. The holidays this year passed in a blur. I can't say I particularly enjoyed them -- they seemed rushed (but that's typical), and filled with obligations and worries. Mostly the worries had to do with my parents -- and I think that overall, that's where the problem lay this year. It was a transitional year for all of my family, as we have to figure out how to undo years of tradition and make them over into something manageable for two 84-year-olds who can't quite remember a lot of things anymore (though they're still sharp as tacks about general life). My sisters were fighting over the gift-buying-on-behalf-of-the-folks stuff; bad fighting, that spoiled the holiday spirit for one of them at least, and is untypical of my family. And I was uncomfortably aware of all the feelings and emotions spinning around me, and especially the frustration of my parents as they no longer had control over their own holiday traditions. We all need to be extra sensitive about that. It's just *so* understandable.

I'd expended so much energy on the Hannukah party and providing lunch for my co-workers, that I couldn't really think of Christmas until the 23rd. Add the record-breaking number of graduate school applications at my job, and I think I was just plum tuckered out for the holidays. Next year I'm going to scale back a bit and reserve some energy for me, I think. Y'all be witness to that, okay?

My favorite things this season? A box of sweeter-than-sweet seedless winter tangerines from Trader Joe's -- a truly sensuous experience. Kidlet's junior high school holiday choral concert -- fabulous and fun! My husband's annual Christmas concert of classical music and carols -- sweet and restful. New year's eve at home with homemade lentil soup.

Here's hoping this new year brings better things for the world and for all of my friends here, including a renewed sense of closeness and sharing. *HUGS*