What would the subject of a New Year’s Day blog be? Should I fill the blank space before me with platitudes? Those platitudes being dusted, polished and recycled from last year and the previous? Should I speak to the moment at all? This day is, after all, only a day in the life. There have been many days and will likely be at least a few more. More for you, too. The sun came up, sort of. The coffee pot fired on the first pull. I drew my robe up against a bit of chill. I ate something light for breakfast and am ready for what comes in the next shorted day’s while. I am as ready as I can be, all my weaknesses notwithstanding. That every day is a new beginning, that I am grateful for this fresh start is not necessary to relate. It isn’t necessary but is sure a good thing to do. My gratitude is a reminder to me, a reminder to you. Yup. There is time, yet. Keep pulling a smile up out of your worn and thirsty boots!
We still have a couple puffs of the not-quite-exhausted air to take in, some sunlight above that sneaks a ray down through the constant clouds. I know it’s up there, yes. In the immediate, a remaining drop or so of clean, refreshing water awaits our parched tongue of a heart. We are weary, but that is always true. Moving from one day to the next takes a lot more of us than we usually realize. My best view is that In the main, 7 billion or so will be here for the day, doing what we are able. Not all of us have been killed and we who survived the night have our work set out.
There are dishes to do, floors to sweep, dinners to cook. We have all of that. There is a good looking young someone, somewhere, waiting for your surreptitious survey. You know the kind of casual survey that awakens the eye with another’s beauty? That kind of ‘survey’. Ha. Any gentle walk through the world reveals a thousand brightnesses, a plethora of futures. I passed a hand-lettered, blue-painted sign on my way to buy a ready-made cup of tea. Someone had a baby, a boy baby. Down the street further, a house festooned in pink balloons. Pretty ordinary expressions of joy at the gender of a new person, both. Who cares? It was joy, it was expectation, it was anticipation, it was tomorrow and the tomorrows to come, dancing on the end of balloon strings.
Maybe for you there is a caring spouse or children? A new job to start? A finished paint job to admire? A song in your heart that is making it’s way to your fingers and your voice? Maybe you will fill with joy today? For a moment? Someone will, that is certain and it might as well be you. The idea of joy, our own or another’s is lovely, I think we could all do with a share in that. I lift on your joy, you on mine, we are together. Ha. There is the other side, it is ready, too. The down side of living is only the same downside waking to the world ever has. It could go miserably awry, all of it. Every bit. Yeah. There is that. Covid slept peacefully through the night and Trump woke to a sumptious breakfast of big Mac and fries, maybe a super-size chocolate shake. There is danger, evil on every slippery step of the way downtown. A big black dog’s bark can be vicious at times. I have seen this. He is on the next block, probably. I know you know this as well.
Today, grey new year’s day — I shall cross the street to avoid the dog. He will have to run through traffic to get me and I really don’t think he’s that stupid. He is clever, patient, he can wait for a facile occasion to swipe at me. I know he will. He will get me one day sooner than I wish for. If I stop to think about it, to listen well, I can hear those sharp teeth snapping. Today, I choose not to stop and listen for snarling danger. I choose to continue.
Whatever we are still able to do this morning, remains to be done. Anything could happen, we do cut a break sometimes. There will be a piece of cheery cherry pie one day when you least expect it. My friend in England has a few more delicious pop tunes to write, whether the black dog is waiting or not. I can look forward to hearing those tunes. It is a new day and I owe myself an equal helping of cheer, I have hope. I feel lucky. I am lucky. I hope I stay lucky for a while. I hope you are lucky, too! Let’s try our luck with a nice, relaxing walk through today. Hmmm?
Congratulations!
Robert On The Air 