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It’s a cold, rainy, windy day here in Michigan. Father is sleeping in his chair across from me, burrito-style under an electric blanket. I can feel some of its heat from the edge of the garment touching my toes. The radio is off and it is quiet, quite quiet really. I hear the gentle taps of snow on the window telling me there could be a white New Years Day tomorrow. It’s a nasty night to be out and about and I have no plans to do so. I suspect he’ll want an early bed time. This will leave me to myself to contemplate Life, The Universe, and Everything. What an introverted way to see out the year and welcome the new.

While Father listened to football this afternoon I read my 2024 journal to remind me what happened. There were two broad conclusions:

1. I lead a dull life.
2. Everything I fretted over didn’t mean anything in the long run. Indeed, most of them I didn’t recall until I read them.

It was a good year. I kept my job through all the work transitions and my day to day job is really no different. I still like my work; I do not have burn-out. How many doctors can say that? And I am getting paid far more for it all. It seems unreal, like winning the lottery.

Our savings are quite good at year’s end, the best they have ever been.

I went to Michigan four times to tend Father.

I regularly saw The Good Doctor; my health and labs are good. I was a good patient and got a COVID, a flu, and a RSV shot. Up yours, Mr. Kennedy.

I did some sort of exercise 2 out of 3 days.

I made four shirts.

I read twenty-five books and finished my high school English teacher’s list of 19 recommendations.

I did a good job with my 2024 resolutions to ‘resist the urge to hurry’ and ‘pause before speaking’. I will carry them over into the new year.

What pleased me most was how I consciously kept in touch with friends and family, and I re-connected with folks I haven’t heard from in ages. It was wonderful to be back in touch with them.

Other than the decline of the dog there wasn’t any overt bad events. There was a scare at work via a patient, but this did not come to any bad outcome. There were five deaths, which were sad, but none were ‘sudden’ nor cut short in their prime.

Only really bad event was the re-election of The Felon.

So, I have a lot of blessings and I can go to bed wholly satisfied it was a good year. I may not bother to stay up to see the ball drop in Times Square. It doesn’t feel necessary in a way. I can retire as soon as Father is tucked in. In the ongoing quiet as the snow falls I can say a quiet prayer of gratitude to whomever may be listening and mutter the word ‘rabbit!’ and be done with the year.

Happy New Year Spo-fans. I look forward to being with you into 2025.

Hugs,

Urspo AKA Spo AKA Michael