A big thanks, and a Happy New Year to you.
That time again. Wanting to first send a huge thank you to all who I’ve crossed paths with this past year at shows, including the organizers behind all of these events as well as my fans and customers. 2024 was a pretty awesome year, and an eye opener for me after a less than expected slow start to my return here to Wisconsin in 2023. Without your interest in my creations this would never be possible. I wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy 2025. We’ll see you all again when we start this all back up in April.
At this time of year it also brings with it a reflection of our own individual lives. Our past, as well as our hopes for our future. That time when we take stock in what we’ve navigated through these past twelve months, while putting in our order for the new year. So to speak.
We all ask for something each new year. Whether it’s something to do, not to do, or aspire to have. Some of them with well intentions like staying more in touch with a friend or relative, asking for help struggling with addiction, and hopes for good health. All very worthwhile and honest needs. But I can’t say that for some individuals. One of which I’ve spoken to recently and expressed what they “need” in 2025. But who am I to judge? I know nothing of the lives of some of these individuals who ask for things that seem petty to me. Things like a more prosperous livelihood, to find time and resources to get back to Maui, asking for that one big break, or even to win the lottery. Sometimes trying to convince themselves (or the gods) that “I’m not greedy. I only need one million dollars and the other 899 they can have”. As if saying this would be a noble gesture in helping with their odds. And I know I’m really out there by insinuating that a lot of us are all shallow, selfish, greedy individuals who ask for silly things like this every December 31st. Trust me, I know that the vast majority of us are not but be honest, haven’t we all had a time or two when we’ve turned our new year’s resolution into an early Christmas list to ourselves?
Here’s the part where I may appear to sound self righteous but I can totally assure you that I am not. We are all capable of putting things into perspective but how often do we do that? I can tell you that I never practiced it when I was playing the front nine holes of my life. But if there’s one thing that I am truly grateful for in my older years its the ability to do this much more frequently, almost daily. But a saint, a monk, or a wise philosopher I am not. I stray from time to time just as everyone does. Reflecting back on this year, here are a few things that at the time felt as if they were monumental events to me and what occurred to dispel such thoughts:
My recent travels, regarding the airline industry. I think I speak for us all when I say that nothing good has come from this industry in the past 40 or so years. Seats and leg room have shrunk, costs have inflated, and they owe you NOTHING when it comes to on-time departures/arrivals or a flight at all. Customer service is virtually non-existent, and after my last trip I was livid, wanting someone’s head to roll after all that they’ve done to me. Then I wake up this morning to news of flight 7C 2216 in South Korea.
The nightmare move. As everyone by now knows, my move back to Wisconsin from Georgia was not a good one. As I’m trying to put that behind me I’m now met with new problems with the new place. I call them teething pains, with the occasional word “mistake” thrown in. It’s had it’s share of little odd problems and a couple quite large ones since the day we moved in. And even when all is humming along fine we’re having a hard time with the fact that we had gone from a 6000 square foot home with adequate storage to a 1700 square foot charming little farm house with none at all. An absolute tragedy, right? Then you hear about those in the Southeast who to this day have still not been able to rebuild their homes after Helene. And who’ve lost every item and keepsake they owned in the process.
My even bigger Christmas nightmare. This year’s Christmas could have been better. A lot better. It started out when I drove away with our only Smart Key for our car sitting on the roof of the vehicle, thus losing it en-route to our day’s planned festivities. Knowing that this mistake was going to cost me hundreds in towing and replacement key fees, I let it destroy any joy I was to have and probably brought down the spirits of a few others in attendance. Then that night I found out that a friend of ours lost his wife that day to her battle with cancer.
Wherever you are in life it’s probably safe to say that someone has it worse. Which brings us full circle to what our resolutions and wishes for the new year should be. In my case, I think it’ll lean more toward expressing my gratitude. Even though that is usually reserved for the 4th Thursday in November, you can never forget how blessed you are even if things aren’t as perfect as one hoped for. I’m not a fan of my 9-5 at all but it keeps a roof over our heads and food on our table. My resolution won’t be to try too hard to find another, just granting the patience to deal with it until greener pastures might appear. Health doesn’t seem to be an issue at this time (touch wood) and I couldn’t ask for a better family or circle of friends in my life so outside of that what more can one really need?