Here we are. Day 1 has passed of another new year.

I could try to tally the previous year in a half dozen ways. How many words written. How many books read. How many movies watched. How many friends visited, or miles traveled, or dollars earned.

I could try … but I won’t.

Instead of tallying and quantifying, I’ll settle with saying that all in all, 2015 was a good year. Even so, I’m not sorry to see it go. Not because it had some ruts (because it certainly had a few of those), but because that’s the nature of time. We look back, hold onto the good, try to let go of the bad, and look forward the future.

So long, 2015. And thanks for all the fish.

(Sorry … I couldn’t resist a “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” reference.)

As for 2016 … let’s make it a good one, shall we?

A LOOK AHEAD AT 2016

The best part of a new year is that it’s like a blank page.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve savored the moment of putting a pen to a blank notebook or journal for the first time. The start of a new year feels the same. There is a wide open  year ahead that hasn’t been filled yet. It’s empty, and I can fill it however I please.

It’s up to me if I want to write a sonnet or simply scribble on a blank page. Likewise, it’s up to me how I spend my year.

Who wants to waste pages on scribbles when they can turn into stories or art? I don’t plan on wasting my days this year. In fact, I have high hopes and big plans for this year.

Family. The husband and I hope this is the year we expand our little household of two into a household of three. I need someone around the house to share my expanding kid lit collection with. Luckily the husband is already on board with  (EDIT: Webster is glaring at me from the ottoman. I think he’s offended that I didn’t say we hope to expand our little household of three into a household of four.)

Home. Remember my dream house? We’re hoping the stars (and finances) align so we can buy it this year. (Or at least buy a house of our own, even if it isn’t the dream house.)

Writing. I’ve been itching for a year to start writing “The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill.” This year’s the year. I’ve even booked the first week of April as vacation time so I can take advantage of Camp NaNoWriMo. If all goes to plan, I’ll have a complete draft by June. Since it probably won’t go to plan, I’ll set a backup deadline of having a complete draft by next January.

Reading. I think I have a husband and a cat in this house, somewhere. I just can’t see them around my to-read piles. Here’s to another year of meeting some new favorite books, and rereading one or two old favorites.