HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025-26!

I don’t have a lot to say about today or tonight except to congratulate us all for making it through yet another super-tough year. And to hope that, in these very trying times, the end of 2025 brings the end to many of our troubles, as well. And that tomorrow can be some form of clean slate, even though I know it’s never really exactly what we expect.

This says it all today.

I never love getting political in this e-zine, but sometimes I must express my disdain for all the destruction caused by Orange Hitler and his henchmen. I recently noticed that at this time nine years ago, (in 2016!,) I wrote: “I usually don’t look too far ahead in life, (rather, just forward to fun events,) but I found myself trying to imagine just what I’ll have to write on this page next year at this time. I just hope that the incoming administration of buffoons and dangers hasn’t gotten us into another World War by then.” And all these years later, I’m more trepidatious than ever. I really can’t believe we’re experiencing all of those horrors again, and actually worse ones this go-round! I have to keep telling myself, “Only three more years,” and pray that we still have a country, and world, by then, for normal leaders to fix.

So now, to bring the room back up a little, let me advise that, when the present gets to be a bit too much to handle, let’s all try to focus on positivity for the foreseeable future. And when we look back over the past year, also try hard to concentrate on the good times that we’ve had in the previous twelve months, no matter how few that may be.

My sincere thoughts to all of YOU!

And most importantly right now, here’s your two-week notice for the most special event of every year, (to me, at least,) my birthday! (January 14th, if you can’t figure-out what the exact date will be in two weeks.)

But for now, I wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year!!! Please stay safe out there! And I’ll meet you all right here again next year. (That’s my perennial dumb joke meaning in my very next column, which will be on Monday.) See you then!