It's only the 3rd. The year is so tender. Yet here we are, breaking it in. Everything gearing up, full steam ahead. They roll out a new year, then give us only two days to prepare ourselves. On the third day, we rise up and head straight into it, ready or not. I like the time after Christmas and before New Year's, when it feels like we are floating free, inbetween years. The current year, dwindled down to a few remaining days, doesn't carry much weight anymore. The checks you write probably won't be cashed that year. The calendar which hung with such relevance and importance in your kitchen is now a has-been, ready for the recycling pile. Yet the new year hasn't arrived yet. So there you are, suspended in a sort of non-time, a state of timeless liberty.Well, it takes a few days, after a new year has been sprung from its packing, to accept it, and adopt it. It takes a body some getting used to, returning to a time-governed state. And re-joining the relentless march of time, a billion feet stepping in rhythm, a billion calendar pages turning, takes a certain willingness, that does not come in just two days. No, I need a whole week to ease myself in. I need a week to watch the old year falling away, like a space capsule jettisoned to earth, and to incorporate a new year into my reality. But we are given two measly days, and on January 3rd, we must resign ourselves to plotting our life, our moments, in terms of this newly minted year. We must remember to use the new year when writing dates, and before the new year has had time to mature and ripen, we open our calendars and begin filling them up immediately.
The new year is like a train, charging through town, everybody running to catch it. And it is this collective urge to not be left behind, that surely was the reason I awoke this morning, determined to post something to my blog, before the new year got away from me.
this is possibly the most beautiful,perfectly worded,descriptive, true thing you have ever posted on here! i read every word like i was eating candy! sooo good!!! i love the imagery of the old year falling away like a space capsule, jettisoned. and the way you give love to that great week between christmas and new years. exactly!! and then,,there's the rather grouchy santas sitting there, keeping watch, or grumbling. thank you, monie mone! wonderful stuff.
ReplyDeleteOmigosh --such glowing comments! I am veclempt!!! Talk amongst yourself!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all you have written. I, however, approach the new year a bit more gingerly. Having spent most of my professional life surrounded by people that worship the significance of two days: December 31 and January 1, (accountants and tax professionals) I have tried to distance myself from their hair pulling, tears and simulated (sometimes, real) heart attacks, as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of casuality (my own word) in most aspects of everyday living and I don’t exempt year end any more than any other day. I can usually facilitate this process by refraining from any “resolutions” that require a January 1 start date. More like a “goal” to be accomplished during the new year…or maybe by June 18 of the following. Whatever…no worries. I, also, like to write the wrong date on checks for a couple weeks into the new year. Just my way of easing on in.
As to your concern of only having two days notice before opening day; that is one more day than we usually get. At least this year with Jan 1 falling on a Saturday we were given a “Get ready…get set…GO!” instead of the usual “Ready? GO!!”
H.B.
i agree with sue, mony. very very well written!! perfection!!!!
ReplyDeleteTrue, H.B. We usually don't get more than one day. Your perspective --from spending most of your work life around accountants and tax pros -- is intersting!
ReplyDeleteErr...I mean interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad the university schedule gives me a gentler entrance into 2011! This week has been much easier than next week will be!
ReplyDeletedid i mention i thought this was exquisitely written? well i meant to
ReplyDeletetotally agree, LL. this one needs to be published!
ReplyDeleteWow, you guys. Thanks!
ReplyDeletei'm interested in how you wrote this. was it a free-flowing thing? were you in some sort of altered state? did you just write what was pouring out of your head? i envy writers.
ReplyDeleteI started off with the idea of the new year being "tender" and it kind of flowed from there. It "flowed" more than it usually does. Most of the time I get a few words or a phrase, and then I write a bunch of stuff I don't like, and I have to chip away at it before it takes a shape I can be happy with. Most of the time I end up deleting huge chunks, that helped me get to where I was trying to go, but aren't worth keeping.
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