rajafacesbothways

New Years Eve-a Brief History

Looking back over a history of New Years Eve involves decades of fun, fun, fun parties, beginning in high school in Ken Johnson's rec room where the guys smuggled in cheap liquor and I fell in love for the first time.

There is a blur of neighborhood parties; singing around the piano, jitterbug, the twist, and dancing in groups; a night spent sitting on the curb in Pasadena, CA to see the Rose Bowl parade; leaving a United Airlines party early to pack up for a flight to Thailand on New Years Day. But my favorite was here--when Karen, friends and grandkids came to the farm for Christmas week and we simultaneously jumped from one year into the next.

This year I'll be in my robe with a glass of wine and a good book. And that's good too.

Top to Bottom

The Sunny 16 photo group decided to each work on a photo project for next year, instead of assignments that never get done. One member is doing tobacco farming, another wooden crosses along highways; a couple going to Iceland on a tour plan to do macro-photography. And so it goes.

I plan to do two-- skies as seen from my back rooftop and bathrooms of the Bluegrass--life from top to bottom?

Here's an example of a sky shot:

Dumbing Down Decade

 Despite the amazing technical advances of the past ten years, this has been a decade of:

1.  zero economic growth

2.  thumb communication often replacing verbal exchanges and ideas, with many absorbed in disclosing mundane info through electronic rectangles

3.  TV reality shows that required no talented writers, actors, or plots

4.  leadership that gave us wars, bank greed, Enron, AIG, Worldcom, Madoff

5.  famed dumb ole' boys and sex, from John Edwards to Tiger Woods.

But with a decade that opened with panicky false fears over Y2K, what else could we expect?

Holiday Ho Ho Hum

Despite weather preventing Karen's possible visit from Chicago, last week had just enough festivities to be fun. Do they take kindly to me here because I have no kin and "my people" are scattered? if so, it works!

Had just enough interaction with others, feasts of excellent food, (that required no effort on my part except to reach for a plate) and cards and phone conversations with family and friends, to make it a delightful, low-key week that allowed  time for getting in some walks and "prairie doggin'" (i.e.sitting on the rooftop facing the sun), watching a couple old movies, digging into a pile of reading and listening to a CD gift of the Complete Goldberg Variations of Glenn Gould playing Bach.

It is a well kept secret that being older and living alone can be very enjoyable. When the only rules are your own and the only expectations are to enjoy each day.

Merry Christmas

I sure wish the Church hadn't shifted the birth of Jesus from spring to December. And. Whose dumb idea was it to proclaim snow was a requirement for the ideal Christmas atmosphere. Okay. It works for Santa but it doesn't for those traveling.

Nevertheless, these holidays are not about traveling; they are about sharing love and memories. So I sent you friendship, joy and peace.

(view from my door down Main Street)

Back to the Manger

You saw the photo. You read my report. Now it is only fair I offer local analysis of the Manger Scene at the court house. Here is coverage from the local Georgetown News Graphic:

The project took about a week to organize by a small group of faith driven actors who "just let the Lord do His work." To quote one:  "It was amazing. Everything fell into place. It really was the work of God."
Another said, "This is really about the glorification of God."

And to quote one Georgetown resident,"This is such a great and beautiful sight. This really bring Christmas back to what it is supposed to be." They hope to have the opportunity to do it again next  year.

I can add nothing more. Except that was a real donkey named "Misty" and not a great costume as suggested in a comment by Barb.

Over the Hump

Friends here have a solstice party every year, involving dozens of lit candles, tables ladened with delicious  homemade food, wines and champagne punch, and all spiced with good conversation. Last night involved three casseroles; a delicately spiced African recipe, one with mushrooms, spinach and filo dough, another similar to a shepherd's pie, all accompanied by salad and home baked breads. THEN there was a dining room table ladened with about 40 wonderful sweets, cookies and cakes--even sugar plums!

Actually, I ate enough to go into hibernation until March.

I'm always glad to get the solstice over with--I think of it as "hump" day in the calendar, knowing that now days will begin getting longer, despite weather getting colder. Being an optimist, I can now look forward to spring.

Away in the Manger--Kind Of

This weekend, music flooded Main Street for 3 hours each rainy evening as Christmas carols and hymns poured from the tapes of a sound system. This music derived from a live scene outside the court house; a makeshift manger that included two of the three kings, three shepherds, a haloed angel, Joseph, looking somewhat disinterested, and Mary gazing saintlike at a wooden cradle, that I hope to God did not include a live baby. 

And, oh yes, a donkey.

I asked the sole spectator and learned this "production" was sponsored by the churches in the area with the permission of our (ineffective) woman mayor.  I can only wonder how long this Kentucky style reality show would play on State Street in Chicago.

1200 Milestone

This marks my 1200th blog entry on rajafacesbothways. (no--I'm not from India: raja stands for resident artist and the initials for my name)  And "facesbothways" is because I'm a Pieces and see every side of everything and have real trouble making decisions---like do I want Italian or blue cheese dressing. No problem with big decisions---like should our country go to war, should I get a divorce, should I move to Kentucky where I know no one, etc.)

Since I don't twitter (do you really need to know when I've gone for a haircut?) or am not on Facebook (why would I want to be "friends" with people I don't even know or like??!) this is my link to the outside world. So I thank you small band of faithful followers; you really are my friends. I truly appreciate your visits and hope I occasionally make your logging in worthwhile.

Change? What Change?

Reading When Everything Changed--The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to Present, by Gail Collins (review later) has made me realize what a different world has evolved while I was doing other things--like growing up (which I've avoided) and growing old (which happened when I wasn't looking).

I've lived through 7 stupid wars and one necessary one; positive social changes for women and minorities: medical improvements, especially laser surgery and the eradication of polio; and huge scientific and technical advances including atomic energy, jets, space exploration, television, computers, cell phones and digital photography. 

And despite all the changes in the world, I have seen no changes in the nature of people. I don't get it.