Are you a resolution-er?  I know Shawn’s thoughts on resolutions.  I read his blog.    Most years, I have a top 10 list to start the year, but for 2025 I am taking a different approach.  It hasn’t even fully crystalized yet.  

Lately I have been astounded by the number and variations of supermarkets on Long Island. When grocery shopping at home I generally frequent Stop and Shop or Trader Joe’s. I go to Stop and Shop when I need more mainstream items. Trader Joe’s is my “fun” supermarket. When I have time, I love to browse Trader Joe’s aisles and see what new and interesting items they have. Of course, there is also my standard Trader Joe’s items that I love such as their lemon spatchcock chicken and cauliflower gnocchi.  

Shelly and I played host to a visitor from just before Christmas through New Year's Day.  We last hosted Jackson in the Spring.  Marisa came "home" to help.  Jackson is a playful not so young anymore dog who likes to have things his way.  My friend Jeff Goldberg's son Justin dropped off Justin on the way to visit his dad and mom Karen.  Justin and Erica live near our niece Tara and her husband Dave.  It turns out Jeff's eldest grandchild is best friends with our grand niece.

The cold is oddly reflective. It slows us down, forces us indoors, and creates just the right conditions for introspection and reflection. Sure, we’re bundled up like burritos with hot tea in hand, but aren’t those moments special? The world feels smaller, quieter, and more intimate. It’s a time for reading by the fire, organizing that area in your house that's been bothering you, or baking anything.   

Concentrating on the bright side of a unique, complicated year my positive highlights are:1) Appreciable Gotham growth and community 2) Visiting mile marker 823) Grandson Shawn becomes an Eagle Scout4) Shawn and sister Ruby compete in Gotham Battle of the Bands5) A good friend is cancer free6) Family picture on Rao's wall7) 4 months without Drinking8) Return to drinking9) Less knee pain10) Batting practice with my son David and grandson Jackson11) Granddaughter Maggie's Tik Tok videos12) Daily posting of Joanne Klein Art

I have an old leather “weekender” bag. Leather hand and shoulder strap—no wheels.We have dear friends with whom we have celebrated New Year’s Eve for over twenty years (save one).

SOme people make predictions for the comoing year, others make New Years Resolutions. Often times New Years Resolutions are broken in the first few months. A few years ago I made a resolution to give up soda and I did. Rarely do I have it, I dont miss it. More and more often on Instagram ill see a video using Coke to clean a rusty old wrench. Scary if you thin that you are putting that in your body and it can clean an old rusty wench. I have not made a New Years resolution since. What is your New Years Resolution? or predictions for 2025? 

As we end 2024, I am reflecting on what a year it has been in Gotham.  So much change in a good way – new groups, new friends, new events.  Yet as we keep doing this thing called Gotham, so much stays the same.