The Rolling Year
And so it’s 2014.
The holidays have come and gone and "the rolling year" as Jacob Marley called it in "A Christmas Carol" has swept right by us. Now we begin again.
Christmas at my house was a quite affair with catered food and the lovely company of my sister and auntie.
Unlike Thanksgiving, where I kept a lid on my emotions, Christmas saw me tearing up at every conceivable--and inconceivable--opportunity.
“What’s wrong?” my sister asked during one of my many spectacles.
“I don’t know!” I blubbered.
“It’s Christmas,” my auntie observed.
It’s hard not to get emotional when you remember the people you love who are no longer with you during the holidays.
New Year’s Day has been quiet. I got up late, fired up the DVR, and watched a couple of episodes of “The Twilight Zone” I recorded from the Syfy Channel’s marathon showing of Rod Serling’s classic TV program.
One in particular, entitled “The Four of Us Are Dying,” stuck in my mind.
It tells the story of Arch Hammer, a lowlife with the ability to change his appearance who uses this eerie skill to con, deceive, and cheat his victims. His is all things to a lot of people until he crosses paths with the wrong person and pays a heavy price for his evil ways.
Keeping it Real
Arch operates out of a fleabag ironically called the “Hotel Real,” a stark reminder that the face-shifting fiend is anything but real.
Real is what I want for 2014. Like last year, there will be no specific resolutions in 2014; just a reminder to increase the good stuff that will keep things real and to cut down on
the bad stuff that will send me into the Twilight Zone.
I found a quote from the Gospels that I would like to use as my guide for this year and the years to follow.
Mark 5:36 simply states “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
I spend a lot of my time being fearful and worried, which then often leads to anger, so this line says a lot to me.
Also, “536” was the address of my family’s house in Bay Ridge and the priest at Trinity Church where I attend services is named Mark. Come on, man. This line was meant for me.
“You always looking for signs and omens,” my auntie rightly tells me.
Indeed I am. And speaking of signs, Rob Brezsny’s Freewill Astrology newsletter uses the statue in St. Peter’s Basilica as a metaphor for my new year.
Brezny says that visitors over the centuries have worn down the statue’s foot by kissing and touching it.
“You will have a similar kind of power in 2014, Gemini,” Brezny writes. “Little by little, with your steady affection and relentless devotion, you can transform what’s rigid and hard.”
All right, then, I’m checking into the Hotel Real with a suitcase full of affection and devotion.
Happy New Year.
I’m going to be taking some time off, so everyone please take care and I’ll get back to blogging as soon as I can.
The holidays have come and gone and "the rolling year" as Jacob Marley called it in "A Christmas Carol" has swept right by us. Now we begin again.
Christmas at my house was a quite affair with catered food and the lovely company of my sister and auntie.
Unlike Thanksgiving, where I kept a lid on my emotions, Christmas saw me tearing up at every conceivable--and inconceivable--opportunity.
“What’s wrong?” my sister asked during one of my many spectacles.
“I don’t know!” I blubbered.
“It’s Christmas,” my auntie observed.
It’s hard not to get emotional when you remember the people you love who are no longer with you during the holidays.
New Year’s Day has been quiet. I got up late, fired up the DVR, and watched a couple of episodes of “The Twilight Zone” I recorded from the Syfy Channel’s marathon showing of Rod Serling’s classic TV program.
One in particular, entitled “The Four of Us Are Dying,” stuck in my mind.
It tells the story of Arch Hammer, a lowlife with the ability to change his appearance who uses this eerie skill to con, deceive, and cheat his victims. His is all things to a lot of people until he crosses paths with the wrong person and pays a heavy price for his evil ways.
Keeping it Real
Arch operates out of a fleabag ironically called the “Hotel Real,” a stark reminder that the face-shifting fiend is anything but real.
Real is what I want for 2014. Like last year, there will be no specific resolutions in 2014; just a reminder to increase the good stuff that will keep things real and to cut down on
I found a quote from the Gospels that I would like to use as my guide for this year and the years to follow.
Mark 5:36 simply states “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
I spend a lot of my time being fearful and worried, which then often leads to anger, so this line says a lot to me.
Also, “536” was the address of my family’s house in Bay Ridge and the priest at Trinity Church where I attend services is named Mark. Come on, man. This line was meant for me.
“You always looking for signs and omens,” my auntie rightly tells me.
Indeed I am. And speaking of signs, Rob Brezsny’s Freewill Astrology newsletter uses the statue in St. Peter’s Basilica as a metaphor for my new year.
Brezny says that visitors over the centuries have worn down the statue’s foot by kissing and touching it.
“You will have a similar kind of power in 2014, Gemini,” Brezny writes. “Little by little, with your steady affection and relentless devotion, you can transform what’s rigid and hard.”
All right, then, I’m checking into the Hotel Real with a suitcase full of affection and devotion.
Happy New Year.
I’m going to be taking some time off, so everyone please take care and I’ll get back to blogging as soon as I can.
Comments
" Christmas saw me tearing up at every conceivable--and inconceivable--opportunity."
Me as well! This past Christmas was very emotional for me. I found myself tearing up constantly. I even started crying at work one day, when someone showed me a very touching email they received on their iPhone. I could feel a shift in my consciousness this past Christmas, like an opening to my awareness.
"Mark 5:36 simply states “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
LOVED that!
And I clicked over on the link you shared and read my own horoscope for the new year and it was SPOT on! I feel a change of some kind coming for me in this new year. And a big change. And that's exactly what my horoscope read.
I had the same kind of New Year's Day as you did. I got up late, watched movies and just chilled. Very nice day indeed.
Happy New Year, buddy! Wishing you a faaaabulous 2014!
Enjoy your time off. You'll be missed. Take care!
I think once you reach a certain age it's almost impossible NOT to cry at Christmas.
There are just too many memories and too many loved ones who aren't around anymore.
I'm glad you connected with Rob Brezsny's site. I don't know how I feel about astrology, but I love his work!
I wish you all the best for 2014 and I'm going to miss you and all my blogging buddies.
Take care!
No worries. Take the time you need, and I'll be here when you get back (hopefully!). That's very gracious of me, isn't it? ;)
Christmas is a very emotional time. It's the 'mid winter' festival, the approach to the end of the year, the low point for many, the time when we miss those who have left us more than usual, it's stressful for those who entertain (even family, because everything must be 'right'), and also it's a time of relaxing and when there's actually a certain amount of pressure to be happy. But there's nothing wrong with feeling and showing your emotions, is there?
I like your quote and I think it can be very comforting to carry one through the year - or through life - with you. Mine is 'Be still, and know that I am God'. It really comes down to pretty much the same thing as Mark's quote: let go of yourself and trust.
came by to tell you how much I liked your photo on Ron's blog, that co-worker of yours sounds cool
I had to put off my disappearing act, which I will discuss in an upcoming post.
I thank you so much for your thoughts about the holidays. No, there is nothing wrong with feeling and showing your emotions.
The holidays are such a big part of our lives, it's impossible not to get emotional. At least it's impossible for me.
"Be still, and know that I am God." Oh, I do like that one very much. Thanks for sharing!
Take care and it's great hearing from you!