NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING

I am happy that the old year has ended and the new year is beginning.

2008 was a good year for a lot of us, but for others they are definitely looking forward to a new year and a new beginning.

Several of my blogging friends were ill or had family members ill during the holiday season. I pray that it is all behind them and once again all is well with them. I especially hope Judy in Kentucky and her grandson, Thomas Wyatt, are on the mend.

I became a computer and blogger addict during 2008 and the computer has brought me so much pleasure and enjoyment. E-mails and instant messaging have connected me to old and new friends all over the world. It is a lot of fun to receive those e-mail jokes that you wonder who has so much time to think them up and the e-mails that inspire you to become a better person. And there are also those that are educational. Of course this year has been a banter year for political jokes, some funny and some not so funny, if they were about your own political party. My son called this to my attention, since we differ in our political views. The President Elect will be the brunt of these jokes during 2009 and years to come.

It has been especially a good year for me. My family and I have all experienced good health and the economy has not been as bad for us as it has for others. My son and Kelly (his fiancee) did not marry in 2008 and everyone is wondering when and if 2009 will be the magic year. It will be especially wonderful for me to know that Keith has found such a warm, loving and giving woman. I couldn't have chosen a nicer person for my son. Our family has known Kelly for approximately eighteen years, ever since her younger son, Kenneth, was a star on Keith's soccer team. Keith coached the four year olds (both girls and boys) and my grandson and Kenneth were both on his team. Kenneth became engaged during the holidays to a very nice girl. Wow! Two engagements in one family. Like mother, like son.

I had a lot of company over the holidays and now that everyone has left and the Christmas decorations are boxed and stored, the house seems rather empty and lonely. But don't misunderstand me, silence is golden!!!!! It is always such a relief when life gets back to norm, whatever norm is.

I started volunteering during 2008 at the 45th Infantry Military Museum and I have met so many courageous men and women who have been in the various wars and battles. It has been such a pleasure to get to know them and to listen to their personal stories. Many of their stories will never be told. Some just cannot speak of the atrocities of war. Recently there was a local TV documentary that highlighted one of our older volunteers (91 year old Army veteran). I have the pleasure of working at the museum on Saturdays with him and I must say what stories he can tell. He was able to bring back some artifacts of Hitler's that are prominently displayed in the World War II artifact display cabinet. The museum exhibits items liberated from Hitler's Munich apartment, his alpine home and the Berlin bunker.

I made my New Year's resolutions and they are the same each and every year, lose weight and exercise more. So, today was the beginning of cutting back on eating and to begin walking at the mall. I walked one mile in twenty minutes today. I have eaten like a pig since Thanksgiving and have packed on unwanted pounds. I will keep my resolutions, I will keep my resolutions. Maybe if I say it enough, I can keep them. Why do we let ourselves regain our old eating habits when we know what will recur?

I followed the Oklahoma tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. The tradition says that eating them will bring you good health and prosperity during the year. I should have a lot of each because I ate so much of them. Did you have your traditional food on New Year's Day? I wish you all good health, happiness and prosperity during 2009.