Happy New Year!!!!!

Every year, around the bitter end of December, I start to get nervous. I realize that yet another year has slipped away and I haven't yet seen Machu Picchu, the Eiffel Tower or lost enough weight to successfully button that silk charmeuse blouse that's been hanging in my closet for many months.

I used to get pretty upset and make unrealistic declarations after pouting and stamping around for a while. I've changed. I still entertain thoughts of travel and weight loss but I have become more reasonable and accepting of both who I am and where my life is taking me. I honestly believe that this comes with age so if you're still pouting and stamping, hold on. And, any year where my kids are okay is good enough for me. In other words, I see what's out there and have learned to appreciate the pleasure and beauty of quiet routine. In today's world, I think that's a gift.

I do, however, wish you all a lot more than that--I wish you joy, good health, a job if you're looking, friendship, love and peace of many varieties---of mind, in your heart and for the whole crazy, little world. We could sure use some of that.

I also wish that Justin Beiber and Kim Kardashian would run away together and shun the media for the rest of their lives.

May it be a nice,simple year---even if we don't see Machu Picchu, the Eiffel Tower or fit into that stupid blouse by next January.

Thank you all for reading what I write--it means the world to me. My blog host shows me from where the people, who take five minutes a day to read this blog, come and my mind is blown. Thanks to my readers in Canada, South Korea, Kenya (I know who you were---welcome home!), the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, Denmark, Brazil, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the Ukraine, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Tunisia, Thailand and just yesterday, Macedonia and Estonia!!  They don't call it the world wide web for nothing and I find that thrilling.

Thanks to my readers right here in the beautiful USA and for your comments and encouragement. Happy New Year to all with lots of love from "Susan Says..."