“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus,  Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy.  I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.  I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess.  I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards, and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy.  I always end up feeling depressed.” ~ Charlie Brown.

Sometimes I feel as if my thoughts are right there on my forehead like a marquis and people can see what I am feeling/thinking.  Mostly, I realize that they can’t and that’s just me being silly and self absorbed. Christmas gets me a little down sometimes especially when it is over.  I think it’s the letdown after all the hustle. The shopping, the wrapping, the writing of the cards, the decorating, the caroling, make me to feel in panic/manic mode for weeks.  What if I forget someone’s gift?  What if everything does not arrive in time?  What if… well it goes on and on like that in my head.  And then “poof” before you know it, it’s all over.  All you have is the leftovers.

So here I am on New Year’s Eve thinking about 2015 and wondering where it went.  Sometimes I need to “namaste” as my daughters tell me. 

When I take the time to reflect peacefully I know that 2015 had its good and bad moments. (Many more good than bad.)  In January, Dan and Ann Taylor shared with us the wonderful news that they were going to be parents.

Ann Taylor and Dan and player to be named

And fast forward to August when the most beautiful perfect baby in the world, Carter Richard Shaw made his appearance and changed our worlds forever.

Carter Richard Shaw

To say that it was a really bad winter is an understatement.  I’m glad that I did not live in Boston but to be in New England was a challenge on all counts.  The snow and cold was relentless and the dogs had a bad case of six weeks of a stomach illness I will not detail.  We still were able to be joined by Rebecca and Kristen and take a short escape on a cruise.

Sunny and Warm

In March it was beginning ever so slightly to melt the piles of snow and we celebrated Rebecca’s and Skip’s birthday milestones, the gender reveal of Baby Shaw and Easter with family and friends.

Becca, Ann Taylor, Grandpa, Dan, and Kristen

Skip – the birthday boy

It’s going to be a BOY!!

Harry and Frankie – the Easter “Bunnies”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We celebrated the baby boy to come with a wonderful baby shower in early June with family and dear friends and friends from long ago.  Everyone was so generous and the baby was outfitted for some time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The summer was filled with many trips to Cape Cod and my big birthday which was peaceful and calm, exactly as I wanted it to be (okay there were fireworks but it was the Fourth of July, just saying) as we waited for the arrival of the baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We bought paddle boards and Becca took to it as a natural.  I managed to stay on top of the board and my hope is in 2016 to be able to learn to paddle board.

 

 

 

Carter Richard Shaw made his arrival in August right on time as per Dan’s schedule.  He is healthy, he is happy, I may be prejudiced but he is perfect.

 

 

 

The fall went by in a blur.  We visited twenty-two (yes 22) wineries with friends in California, cruised with friends in November, I learned to navigate the train and subways of New York ALONE to spend a few hours with Ann Taylor and Carter in Brooklyn.  (People in New York are very friendly despite what others say if you look very lost). Skip’s best friend of over 45 years died this fall and although it was not a surprise it gave one more pause to appreciate living life to the best you can every day.  Thanksgiving came and went as did Christmas as I sit here January 1, 2016 still working on this post.  My 88 (soon to be 89) year old dad got to meet Carter for the first time.  The pain of missing my mom in that moment is hard to describe.  I wish she was here.

 

 

It’s good to look back, it’s good to look forward and it’s good to live in the moment which is more of what I need to do.  Overall, it was a very good year and 2016 looks to be another.  It makes me think of the Frank Sinatra song,  “It was a Very Good Year.”

“And I think of my life as vintage wine
From fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs
It poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year”

I was going to write about all of the plans I had for 2016.  Instead, I think I will try to live more in the moment, take life as it comes, adjust my sails, throw up some trial balloons, and Namaste.

Happy New Year.  May 2016 bring you health, happiness and many moments to make good  memories.