ANOTHER NEW YEAR

Hello Kast Family,

It doesn’t seem possible, a decade into the new century! Where has the time gone?…. I still remember watching TV on New Year’s Eve 1999 and waiting for the TV and the clocks and the computers to go blank at midnight. Seems funny now, but no one really knew what was going to happen, which turned out to be nothing.

So much has happened in the past 10 years, so many changes, events, happiness and heartaches.  Sometimes it’s difficult to focus on the good things, the positives that have taken place, but that is one of my New Year resolutions, to try to see the good things that happen everyday, the blessings that so many of us receive and often don’t even realize. Times are difficult for many of us right now, but we still have so much. We have each other, and while we may not feel as financially comfortable or secure as we used to, we still have more than many.

I have to quit complaining about having to go to work, I have a job! And as long as it lasts I need to appreciate that. I have to quit complaining about having to clean my house, I have a house! And I have to quit complaining about gaining weight, I have food! (I just have to eat healthier food). I have friends! I have health! (at least as good as you get at my age :). I have stuff, too much stuff…….and I am beginning to realize what is important and what isn’t. I sometimes think of what I would take with me if I had to leave quickly and only grab a few things………there isn’t much except memories, so pictures, some videos, a few mementos. The rest can stay.

I was talking to my sister Nancy, tonight and told her about my Christmas tree. I don’t have a pretty tree with all special colors, all matched and beautiful. I only put up the special ornaments that had meaning. The paper rings the kids made when they were little, the aluminum foil bells hanging on pipe cleaners, the painted Santas and the ornaments that were given to me by friends and family that hold special meaning. I called it my hodge podge tree, but my sister said ” No, it’s your memory tree”. Ahhhh……. I liked that. Now my tree has respectability. When someone tells me they have done a theme tree I will say, I did too. My memory tree.

In a few minutes I will be on my way to the airport to pick Jenn up. She has been visiting her Dad and will come back here and leave for home tomorrow sometime. It has been a wonderful, too short visit. We celebrated Christmas and her birthday and some wonderful family time with her brother and family and Grandma Andree and each other. I think these are the most cherished times and I will keep these thoughts up front on those gloomy winter days when I start to feel grumpy.

Take care, Kast Family. I hope your holidays have been warm and happy. I keep all of you in my thoughts and wish you all the BEST NEW YEAR ever!

With Love

Joan