So what’s up with the tradition of setting a New Year’s resolution… where’d that come from? To the “Google” I guess! Established in ancient times to worship gods, the nearly 4000 year old history of “resolutions” is today a goal setting, self-improvement exercise that statistically has a very low record of success (The History of New Year’s Resolutions) ! It’s not a practice I’ve tried… but this year I thought, as I’m so much older and wiser 🤪, I’d kick that can down the road a bit.
Really no issue contemplating a goal… for me it was to get back to music 🎶! I’m absolutely in a space where I want to re-establish the routine of regular guitar contact. We’d had a family session over Xmas and it was all so rusty… to the point that I was frustrated with myself. The fix is getting together with friends and playing! To that end, an impromptu session evolved Jan 4th at Chez Lumsden. A great evening of camaraderie, music, grub and “foolery” putting 2025 on a great footing! Thanks to the boys, and especially Ms Lumsden, for helping with the prep and making it happen!!!
Weekend No. II of January saw us trekking to Halifax for reconnecting. We caught up with friends for birthday / home sale celebrations, collected offerings from the stage via the Mellotones and a Rankin’s Winter Warmer, checked in with the kids and, lastly, an evening MtA “Catch Up” with Andrew, Lori and Reg. Busy, but so many great stops and moments with friends/family! Probably, all counted, a pretty expensive weekend but so great to make all these connections in one swoop.
Since we’re numbering, weekend No. 3 I chartered the “Port Williams Express”… off to the valley for our annual check in there! We, indeed, check in almost daily as a trio in iMessage, to turn soil and catch up on the going’s on. However, it gets to a point where you want to “look ’em in the eye” to see how they are really doing. Great visit with Darren & Scott… hiking, great meals, ton of lies… a chance to take stock on how the gang are doing. What was once a raucous affair is now healthy walks / eating and 9:00 PM bedtimes 🫣.
With Janie fulfilling NSTU duties on weekend No. 4, I tested ice at Smelt Lake for the first crossing this winter. Cold, quiet, calm, clear… all great descriptors of the weekend weather conditions. A particularly photogenic trip… freshly fallen snow, tinges of northern lights, colorful sunrise and setting. Glad to have been back and warmed the premises. January closed, as it always does for Ms L, with exams at DrJ while school pushes into the heart of winter at SAJS. We did manage some trip prep, with the aid of a Jan 30th snow day. Next up, some focus on upcoming renovations at 204 Cloverville, as Janie connects the dots with some contracting for spring / summer 2025. Not a bad showing for the thick of winter! 🥶