Happy New Year's Eve

This is my New Year's Eve picture...... my Cocker, Maggie a few years ago. It was the year that my first husband died and Mags and I were left on our own. It was the first New Year's Eve that I would celebrate alone in over 45 years. I bought one of those little 4 packs of tiny wine bottles and put the party hat on Maggie at midnight. We brought in the new year together. She was my faithful companion during that time. Our family had just experienced a year of heartache, but somehow we got through it. Maggie dealt with this in her own way. She had lost one of her loving companions, but still went on to cheer our family everyday. Little did I know, that happiness was just around the corner. Someone new would come into our lives and we would find some happiness again.

This year, Joe and I will celebrate New Year's Eve by going to Mass and then out to dinner. No big parties anymore, no wild celebrations...just a quiet welcome for 2012 in our living room. We might remember the old days, but not dwell on them. There is a saying on the wall in our breakfast nook....Remember yesterday, Ponder tomorrow, but Live for today. We see this every time we eat a meal and it reminds us of the important thing...today. It's time to say goodbye to another year...one that brought joy and sorrow to many of our family and friends. Looking ahead for just a minute...I hope that 2012 is wonderful.

Balisha