Today I saw a great blue heron fly by my bedroom window. It is awfully late in the season but a joy none the less. What a wonderful Christmas treat!

Now it is a rainy Christmas midnight here in the Hudson Valley, which is in New York State. Everybody has quieted down for the night and my sister and I just finished watching a double feature of the last two Harry Potter movies. We watched them in our respective homes (hers in North Dakota) on our DVD players and we were on the phone for almost the entire time. We had a intermission between movies. We watch movies periodically like this and it is a lot of fun. It would be greater to see each other in person but our work keeps us far apart. Cell phone free minutes make it much easier for us to stay in touch. Modern technology does have its uses.

Today I’ve talked to my mom and my younger brother. I went over to my older brother’s last night where his wife and 3 kids and the latters’ partners were all gathered. What a delightful bunch of people. We laughed and laughed. I sent out my electonic Christmas cards to friends and family and have heard back from a lot of them already. I’ve got great friends. I’ve got a great family.

With my job I get the week between Christmas and New Year’s off and it is a wonderful way to wind up the year. Time for reflection and rest. Time for preparing to start the new year with renewed enthusiasm and hope.

After 5 years of progressively worsening financial woes, I have finally straightened that all out. And slowly but surely I will recover. This year I will straighten out my health problems. I will overcome these issues. I wish you success in your own struggles. May 2010 be your best year ever!