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Merry Christmas,
As another year draws to a close I hope you find the joy that comes with this season. For me, joy has begun to appear like the tiny buds you see in spring. My job is more pleasant than it had been. I have good friends at church and friends where I work. Moving in May took me a bit further from my friends in Rancho Santa Margarita, but I’ve found new friends in Irvine. Altogether, my outlook today is more favorable than it has been in several years. | 
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My job these last months has me managing the programming department. At first this was like taking the paints away from an artist. I love programming and I consider myself an expert in my areas. I’ve tried to shape my new job to make it is more like the time I spent teaching. That makes me more like the type of manager I was in the past and a bit out of step with what this company expects. So I spend my time trying to help the other artist learn different styles. I’m going to enjoy this while it lasts because nothing seems permanent anymore.
While my church friends are still very important to me, I’ve drifted further away from them. I find it too hard to get off work early, spend an hour in traffic, spend hours in a meeting and then drive back home. I’ll deal with the traffic one night a week for the choir, but I’ve dropped out of everything else. Instead, I’ve been spending more time at home. For the first time in years I’ve gone back to an effort to read the Bible cover-to-cover once a year. I started a bit late this year, but I still think I can finish by December 31st. By the way, my Bible now is on my hand held computer. I also switched from the traditional service to the contemporary service. The praise music feels like another sign of spring and it reminds me of how enthusiastic I used to be about the chapel services when I was teaching.
Another old habit I’ve readopted is jogging. It’s been twenty years since I jogged, but now I get out every morning at 5am to either jog 5 miles or ride 20. I love to see the sunrise. My longest run was 7 miles, my longest walk was 12 miles and my longest ride was 100 miles. I’m not as fast as I once was, but I’m a lot more determined.
One of the other joys in my life this year is having a nice meal with a friend. It is a strange experience trying to learn to date again at age 50. I’m not sure I ever did figure out what the rules were the last time around, but I know they’ve all changed since then. My divorce from Frima completed, so now I begin again. This is exciting and frightening. Will I find someone or linger forever in the dating scene? And which is more frightening, finding someone or not finding someone? I think this whole process is best left to the young. And besides, it’s really hard to get up at 5am if you stay out as late as 9 or even 10. If I don’t get 8 hours of sleep I get really cranky in the morning.
I have also learned to appreciate Southern California. I loved Massachusetts and Arizona. Now I value a climate where I can run all year round. I’ve learned where the rabbits, ducks and egrets are in the morning. I’ve watched the raccoons and even seen a coyote stalking his breakfast. While this is still a lot more urban that I like, there are advantages to having such a selection of restaurants and stores within walking distance. There is a lot of beauty here, and I am reminded of that every morning as I watch the sun turn the power poles into illuminated crosses that glow in the still dark sky.
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This next year holds promise. Maybe we can avoid another war.
Maybe the economy will recover. Maybe I can stay awake until
midnight on New Year’s eve. I’ll start with the smaller challenges
first, but wouldn’t it really be nice if we could all sing “Peace on
earth and good will towards men all the peoples of the earth.”
Best wishes for the New Year.
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