Greetings, Interwebs...
The year 2024 is winding down, and it's been a rather odd year in the sense that not too much has changed in my personal / professional life... Just staying the course in terms of family life -- grateful for my relatives and friends, and especially grateful to spend time with my granddaughter and the kids as they contonue to grow and spread their proverbial wings.
We were visiting with our friends in Orange County last night, and I was telling Joshua and Joel about how Cheri and I have really been leaning into our empty nest phase, which seems to include the two of us embracing Elderly Culture.
For example, as I type this blog entry, it is 9pm... and I've been wearing my pajamas and bathrobe for over an hour... and probably later on I'll be playing Jeopardy on this computer. So, yep -- we're old!
And I'm grateful to be so! I hope Cheri and I get to spend another 40 or 50 years on the planet puttering around and visiting loved ones (in between watching movies, reading books, and maybe dabbling with a story or play every once in a while.
The aspirations for literary greatness (as well as fame and fortune) are definitely waning... But, there's still part of me that hopes to stumble upon some creative nugget that turns into gold.
In the meantime, I'm just trying to savor all of these moments as they come and go.
Wishing whoever is reading this the very best New Year and holiday season.
Take care!
P.S. In other news, check out this giant inflatable Santa we saw in the Eklunds' neck of the woods:
