The Thursday Ramble: Two Weeks before Christmas

Two weeks until Christmas, three weeks until the New Year, my how time has flown by. It seems like just yesterday I was seeing the early spring bloom. 

I often become very reflective at this time of the year, looking back at the year that has gone by, planning for the year ahead. 

2025 was a good year.  We lived well, and traveled comfortably.  I have done some good reading this year. I have become increasingly engaged in my community.  I have had some fun playing in the kitchen, exploring new arts and rediscovering arts from the very distant past. 

Highlights of the year? 

• Bermuda, Brugge, lunch with Duncan and Stephen, St. Andrews. Flying home first class. 
• Getting the top fixed on the little VW, and enjoying putting the roof down through the fall. 
• Getting to know the neighbors.  This one takes some effort.  A couple of years ago we started hosting a monthly LGBTQI+ gathering here at the condo.  We have made some dear friends through this. It does take some effort to remember to plan something, each month.  I have become very involved in the community Arts group, and through that have met more neighbors. 
• Lots and lots of long walks. Rediscovering the joy of going into the City and wandering a museum for an hour or two. 
• Getting back into the pool. This started with water aerobics, then some laps, and now deep water active movement.  I have even lost a little weight. 

Regrets for the year?

• I coulda, shouda, visited some family and friends. I intended to, and just didn't.  I have excuses. 
• Worrying about money, when I don't really didn't need to. Related to coulda, woulda, shouda.

Now to plan themes for the blog for 2026. 

• The Sunday Five has to continue by popular demand. It is a grind to keep coming up with questions.
• Monday Moods prompt me to do a check-up from the neck-up. 
• Tuesday Travels will continue
• My World of Wonders on Wednesdays
• I enjoy the Thursday Rambles, it gives me a place to write essays about whatever I am thinking about. 
• The freestyle Fridays will continue. 
• The Saturday Morning Post - looks like a series on creativity. The 50 states was fun, it is done, and in the end was probably the least popular theme day. Still I did it for me, to record the unimportant little things that shouldn't be forgotten. The challenge will be to sustain the creativity, but then that is one of the challenges of creativity.