Happy New Year and all that...

Everyday on my way to work I read this sign on the elevator in the employee parking lot.  It's funny cause it tells you not to become "alarmed" if the elevator stops.  But then goes on to say that if the elevator does stop use the button which happens to be labeled "ALARM" to summon aid.  I kinda get a mixed message there.  If I am hitting a button called "ALARM", I have a feeling that that will be my general mood.

So I am thinking about the new year and these lyrics come to mind:

Now everybodys talking about this new decade
Like you say the magic numbers
Then just say goodbye to
The stupid mistakes you made
Oh my memory serves me far too well

They come from a George Michael song called "Waiting for that Day".  It was released back in 1990, hence the reference to "new decade".  By the way if you don't like George Michael, you just haven't been "listening without prejudice."  This is a guy who suffered one of the most embarrassing dramas a person can go through without going into seclusion.  Furthermore, he was able to make fun of it.  That deserves loads of respect.

Anyway, the lyrics.  It is so natural to feel that the start of the new year is like the reset button on an Atari 2600 (please, someone remember that!)  You are starting fresh and all your lives are intact.  You are not going to make the same mistakes this session that you did last.  But like that former boy from Wham, your memory will "serve you far too well."  I think the happiest people are those with the poorest memory.  Unfortunately a poor memory makes for a poor soul.  There's the Rub!

The New Year?  There are things I would love to change.  There are plenty of things I would love to see remain the same.  This was my 39th new year.  I am proud of my strengths and achievements.  At the same time my weaknesses and vices have been around so long that they seem like old friends. 

This brings me to my other old friends (like the segue?), I pray that the new year brings you many blessings and few tears.

Thank you so much for putting up with this blog.  I hope to see all of you soon.  If I have one resolution this year, it is to connect with those beings that have made these 38+ years worth it.