Looking back!
That’s not what we are supposed to do with 2019 not much more than a few days old.
We are supposed to look ahead.
And, not only are we supposed to look ahead, we are supposed to make New Year’s resolutions.
And keep them.
The whole idea makes me somewhat weary.
I think I would rather look back. At least for a little while.
For me, the Christmas season was kind of like being caught in a giant whirlwind of a little bit of too much.
You know what I mean!
Too much going on. Too many things to do.
It was good. It truly was the season of good will and peace and joy. But it went so fast it’s like it never really happened.
But it did. Of course it did.
And now, as January slowly exposes its snowy, chilly self to the world, I am enjoying reliving a few of those precious moments that came and went in a blur of being busy.
And so even though my company has departed and my house is back to being quiet and only slightly disorganized, (on the surface at least) I think I will allow myself a few quiet moments when I will just simply remember.
To set the stage for this sojourn down memory lane, my Christmas decorations are still up, the balls and bells and candles and miniature twinkling lights poignant reminders of Christmas 2018.
I know I need to take the decorations down and cart them back to where they live for 11 months of the year in a maze of quiet and dark confusion under the stairs.
And I will, soon enough.
But not today.
Maybe tomorrow.
I’ve enjoyed the season immensely and I have been fortunate enough to have experienced moments that continue to fill the nooks and crannies of my mind with happy thoughts.
One such moment was sitting around the kitchen table with friends and slipping back, way back into the bygone era of rock ‘n roll.
We did this with a little help from Home Google.
I tell you, that thing is amazing.
It can take you back to the days of The Everly Brothers, Hank Williams and Elvis Presley with a simple command.
All you have to say is “Hey, Google”!
Once in awhile, it will throw you a curve ball and say something like, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” but for the most part it listens better than most husbands, kids or even hard-of-hearing friends.
Anyway, it was a great evening as we took a musical train way back to the days of sock hops and pony tails and simply being young and alive and confident in a world we were sure was made for us.
My brothers, who lived and died before such inventions as Google Home ever graced living rooms such as mine, would have loved that little machine.
But, with January already carving out huge blocks of time in 2019, I know I need to wrap up Christmas past and move on.
Perhaps, I even need to make some New Year’s resolutions so 2020 would actually see a new and improved me.
I was listening to the radio the other day and some gentleman caller was on the air talking about the New Year’s resolution he had made and kept last year.
Apparently, his resolution was to write 100 letters. He did it.
I was impressed.
If it would have been me, I doubt if I would have completed the task.
My persistence and tenacity would have been sorely tested by the mail strike. And what about always having an envelope and a postage stamp always on hand?
And then remembering to mail each and every letter.
No! That would not be a good New Year’s resolution for me.
And so as I move into 2019, I think I will make a resolution to simply allow myself to remember the importance of slipping into the past now and then, and feeling, once again, the simple delight of being with friends and listening to the really great tunes that continue to surpass the time barrier.
And, as another resolution, I will remind myself of the importance of making new memories, some really good ones that will defy time.
And live on forever!
Treena Mielke is the editor of the Rimbey Review. She lives in Sylvan Lake with her family.