Saturday, January 1, 2011

A New Year Begins

"New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."
~ Mark Twain


This 1932 photo by Samuel H. Gottscho has nothing to do with New Year's Day except that it shows the city where I will be spending 2011 as I like to imagine it, and imagining is really the best we can do for a new year.

The start of a new year brings out great, gooey gobs of false cheer in some people and maudlin wallowing in others. To me it's a good day to hang up a new calendar and spend a little while — by which I mean no more than 30 minutes — assessing.
  
"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
~ Benjamin Franklin

This song by the Kinks sums up my wish for all the good people out there.



"It wouldn't be New Year's if I didn't have regrets."

~ William Thomas

I am not looking forward to the year in politics, when the new, GOP-dominated Congress tries to hand over what's left of our country to corporations and special interest groups. To those who are bought and paid for, I'm putting you on notice: I stand with Tom Petty.



Happy 2011, everyone. Make it the best year you can.

"Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account."
~ Oscar Wilde

5 comments:

  1. Katherine C. JamesJanuary 1, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Part of the first day of the year is also for my assessing and planning, and for the hanging of my new calender.

    As usual, I love your musical choices.

    Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LadyBizBizJanuary 1, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Thanks for reminding me 'there is no easy way out' .... life's challenges have often tested me to the limit but I've never been one to 'back down'.

    I'm looking forward to 2011 and whatever it brings.

    I love the Oscar Wilde quote.

    Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Michele HushJanuary 1, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    Thanks, Katherine, and happy New Year to you, too.

    Hi LadyBizBiz. I find not backing down comforting in some weird way, perhaps because it tells you who you are and what you're made of better than almost anything else. Have a great year.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Miss WhistleJanuary 1, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    Happy New Year, Miss Hush. I am glad to have found your lovely blog and you on Twitter.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michele HushJanuary 2, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    Happy New Year to you, too, whistling one! I'm very happy to have found your blog, too.

    ReplyDelete

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