Are you partying tonight? My celebration will be small, just me and one of my sons. As in years past, we’ll toast the New Year around ten o’clock because it’s midnight somewhere. Then he’ll go back to his house & we’ll both be tucked in before the bell tolls midnight.
Tomorrow I’ll make a few of the good-luck dishes, just because I like them, not because I truly believe in the luck. The rest of the day will be spent working on a new jigsaw puzzle.
A good friend sends me jokes and memes that I often share here on the blog and this one, even though it’s dated, for New Year’s has such a wonderful message. We can just change the date to 2026.
There is so much wisdom in that message, especially the part of being cautious and respectful. Too often in this time of quick responses to things online, or on the road, or in a store, that are aggressive and offensive, we respond with aggression of our own.
In strident words or in belligerent actions.
Consider what “don’t touch anything” could mean in our lives. Not literally of course, or we couldn’t do our jobs or take care of our daily needs.
I couldn’t make my morning coffee without touching the coffeepot, and I really enjoy my coffee.
When I thought about that phrase, I wondered if it was tied to the caution and respect part of the message.
Respect the property of others.
Don’t steal from a neighbor, or a store, or a place of work.
It can also be part of the encouragement to be good and quiet. Step back from the angry, hateful discourse on social media or at the local club or tavern.
Don’t engage.
Don’t respond.
Don’t touch it.
It’s been years since I made any kind of New Year’s resolutions. They tended to rarely last past Valentine’s Day anyway. Who can stick to a diet when faced with a gorgeous box of chocolates?
This year, however, I think I will resolve to try to live the message in that meme as best I can. The respect part is easy. My father taught me about that when I was a kid. Not by a particular lesson, but by the way he treated other people.
Goodness will also be relatively easy. Another virtue instilled in me by good people who were instrumental in forming the adult I am today.
What will be a challenge is the “quiet.” On one level, the quietness needed to meditate and regroup is something I’m getting better at. But I don’t think I can be quiet when it comes to speaking out against injustice in the world, and maybe that isn’t what the message in the meme is asking.
What do you think?
It would be very difficult for me to stop writing the opinion pieces here on the blog. Processing events through writing has been a habit since I was in high school, and that’s not altogether a bad habit to have. Not everything needs to be published, however, so maybe I will be more cautious as I step into 2026.
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Now, here is a bit of New Year’s humor from my book, A Dead Tomato Plant and A Paycheck. Enjoy…
As the last days of the year wound down, our thoughts turned to New Year’s Eve parties and the inevitable aftermath on New Year’s Day. I preferred going to someone else’s party as it was a lot easier to bring a snack to share then clean my whole house and prepare a bunch of food.. Plus, I needed time to think about my New Year’s resolution for the year.
Normally, when it came to New Year’s resolutions, I tried not to demand too much of myself, preferring to do something simple like giving up escargot. But one year, in the interest of strengthening my character, I decided it was time to exercise a little self-discipline. I swear it had nothing to do with the strange dream I had the week prior.
In the dream, a cloudy apparition hovered over the foot of my bed and called my name, “Maryann Millerrrrr.”
“Wha … Who me?”
“Yes, you,”
“Who are you? What do you want?”
”I’m the ghost of columns past.”
“Right. And I’m Erma Bombeck.”
“Tis not a moment for levity. You have much to account for this night.”
“Like what?”
“How about your indiscriminate use of poetic license?”
“It’s not indiscriminate. I work very hard at it.”
“Aha! So you admit to lying in your column.”
“Well… not exactly lying. I prefer to call it ‘stretching the truth. ‘”
“And how do you think your family and friends feel about this?”
“They understand.”
“Oh, yeah? What about your friend, Mary? Do you know she was kicked out of the Gingerbread Hall of Fame after you credited her with your fiasco?”
“I didn’t know that was going to happen. But you must admit it was a funny story.
Honesty would have been very dull.”
“So. Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’d do anything for a laugh?”
“Well…almost anything.”
“And you’re going to persist?”
“Of course. I’ve got job security to think about.”
“In that case consider yourself warned. Persisting might not be in your best interests.”
With that, the hazy form disappeared, leaving me with much to ponder. Perhaps it was time to ease up a bit. So, I made a solemn vow never to poke fun at my friend, Mary, again …
Well, maybe I’d start the week after next. First, I wanted to tell all my readers about the strange punch she used to make.
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That’s all from me for today, folks. Whatever your plans are for the New Year’s Holiday, be safe. Be happy. And do leave a comment on any resolutions you might be making this year. Anyone joining me in giving up escargot?
