Around Brimfield: Looking forward to the new year, and summing up the old

Best wishes for a happy New Year! Welcome 2024! There is a saying that “New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.” I am reminded of the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin when he said, “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.”

An oft repeated motto at our house is, “Blessed are the flexible, for we will never be bent out of shape.” Last week the necessity to alter circumstances presented itself when my husband came down with a severe case of Covid. We were looking forward to a perfect Christmas. All ten of our children and their families were going to be here, preparations were made to feed and house everyone, gifts wrapped, and all preparations were made. Suddenly, we found ourselves quarantined for Christmas. After more than a little pouting (mostly from me), we decided to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. We were not going to allow “the Grinch” to steal our Christmas. The beautiful weather allowed us to be outside and contemplate the “gifts” that we had been given (sunshine, trees, our ducks, a blue sky, family, and much more). On Christmas Eve, some of our grandchildren surprised us on the back patio with their re-creation of the nativity story, and we were invited to Christmas morning via zoom. It was a lovely Christmas. I hope yours was as well.