Happy New Year!

from the terrace, midnight, fireworks over Central Park
Happy 2013!
This is one of Audrey's stories: She was at her desk, late but not late enough for the firm to pay for dinner. She was getting hungry enough to pay for it herself, but then she realized that by the time she ordered up something and it arrived, she could be finished and on her way home. She forced herself to concentrate, finally gave up and searched through her desk for food. And she found some: 6 little packages of saltines. She ate a few, finished her documents, threw her coat on and wrapped up, and headed for the bus. In the elevator, she realized that she'd tucked the rest of the saltines into her coat pocket, and as she walked over to her bus stop, she continued to nibble on them. As she was munching, a homeless person asked if she could give him any money to get something to eat. Chowing down on a mouthful of food, Audrey felt worse than guilty. She took the remaining packets of saltines out of her pocket and handed them to the homeless guy. "I don't have any change with me, but this should hold you till someone else comes along." The homeless guy stared at the saltines in amazement. "Thanks anyway, I was really thinking about a nice deli sandwich."

"Everyone has to have standards," Audrey concludes. 

Recently local news media made much of a story about a police officer who passed a homeless guy on a cold night, went into a store and bought the guy a pair of boots. A news photographer just happened to be passing and got a shot of the cop kneeling down and holding out the boots. Follow-up reporting made much of the fact that the homeless guy did not hold on to the boots. They were sold or traded for something he wanted more. He explained that if he'd kept them, they'd only be stolen and he might get beaten up for them.

We have a lot of "first world problems" here. I resolve to try not to let them get to me. For the rest -- being kinder, thinner, thriftier, healthier, better organized -- well, those wishes are on same list as being taller and more stylish, and have about as much chance of coming true. I tell myself it's the wish that counts, it's the trying that counts. It's being the person who tries.
Happy New Year, dear friends and readers, here's one resolution I know I'll keep: the next time I want to buy a sweater that I know will pill, I will put the money into a poor box in a church or I'll sneak it into the charity box in a friend's kitchen. And I will try to keep my standards - of behavior, of expectations, of style - high.

25 comments:

  1. Thank goodness my standards are low - takes the pressure off. Ha!Happy New Year Fred!

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    1. Sulky- you just made me swallow my tongue there!

      Fred - Wishing you the very best for 2013.

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  2. Happy New Year Fred! I love Saltines so much, I am not sure I would have given them away...

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  3. WFF, my New Year's resolution is to read your blog every day, oh and keep a journal. I realized my handwriting which was never very good has become absolutely terrible so hopefully the journal will help it to improve. Happy 2013...

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    1. Wow, thank you, JRS Conifer. This blog started as kind of a travel journal, then it seemed I wanted to talk about different things. So far I have successfully avoided being just another wine blog, and just another tired working/not working lady blog. There are enough really good ones out there. Seriously good ones. I hope your journal surprises you!

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  4. Happy New Year, wellfedfred! Wishing you and Himself much happiness, continued good health, and many blessings in 2013! :)

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  5. Thank you, FFM, and I am sending the same wishes in the direction of your house!

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  6. That is a great resolution WFF. This year I did not spend my clothing budget and was quite happy to use the extra for charitable purposes. It warmed my heart more than any pilly sweater or polyester skirt.

    Happy 2013!

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    1. Oh yes, I love the banner. Is that you in the middle, double-fisting it?

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    2. Happy New Year, xoxo! Take good care of you in 2013.

      Enjoy the banner, I'll probably go back to a skyline or similar after Jan. 6th.

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  7. Happy New Year! I hope to catch up on your blog today after says of holidays, travel and a couple of local tragedies in my town. Kinder and thriftier indeed; and we will all lose those extra 5 pounds right away.

    At our shelter in our nearby little city we are warned not to bring in new things as they will be sold.

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    1. Happy New Year, Lane! I'm sad to hear about the local tragedies, and hope that 2013 will be easier. In lots of ways.

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  8. You are a rare creature, WFF. Someone my beloved grandmother would have described as a person who lives in the world, not on it. I love to read what you write. I do so every new post, even though I don't always comment. Your resolution has inspired me.

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    1. Desert Flower, how lovely! Thank you, comments like this inspire me, and I'm facing 2013 with hope. Oh, yes, and with a little notebook to jot down expenditures.

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  9. Happy New Year - hears hoping for better things for all people in 2013.

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  10. me, too. Lisa, and Happy New Year to you!

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