My New Year Resolution For 2026

In about two and one half days, we will say good-bye to 2025 and welcome in 2026.  Another ending with a promise of a new beginning.

I shared this yesterday on Facebook, which was originally a post of mine from 2023. I obviously updated it to the current time frame because it is something I have tried to live by. I am sharing it here again:

"I am walking into 2026 with a clear heart and mind... If you owe me, don't worry about it - you're welcome. If you wronged me, it's all good - lesson learned. If you are angry with me... no argument - you've won... If we haven't spoken. it's cool.

I love you and wish you well... If you feel I wronged you, I apologize.

Life is too short for all penned up anger, holding grudges, pride, spite and extra stress, drama and pain that comes along with it.  

                      

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🥳"

My wish for all of you is to find the peace in your life  which you seek, the love in your soul which you are missing and and the joy in your heart you deserve. And that you wish the same for others.

Then, perhaps, we will realize the happiest of new years we ever had. After all, it certainly is a try, yes?

So, I wish you all a heartfelt Happy New Year as we all resolve to treat each other with a little more kindness, greater respect and much forgiveness for things which are truly petty in the scheme of things which matter most.

PEACE AND LOVE.

A Christmas Wish For You

It has finally arrived; that time of year where we begin to wind down all the issues which seem to complicate our lives so we can enjoy the Christmas festivities.

You know what they are: paying your bills, fighting with your neighbor,  dealing with the kids, or coping with your health issues.

Whatever they may be, this is the time to put it all on the backburner to deal with it another day.

This week, I will be focusing on prepaing for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day  festivities. How about you?

Wrapping presents, last minute shopping and even setting aside  some time for making Sfincone (a Christmas Eve tradition) and baking a Creme Brulee' pie. With homemade caramel sauce.

So finding some time to write a commentary or two this week just may not be possible. Of course,  after Christmas, that opportunity may present itself while I bask in the warmth of knowledge that.this coming week was a success.

So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas as you bring joy to your world, knowing it will all be better because you took the time to focus on what really matters.

Oh, To Go To School in 2025

While most school districts will close for the Christmas break, some districts will be closed longer than others. Here in Lake County, Florida, that begins starting at the close of school on December 19 and lasts until the schools reopen on January 6.

I don't remember any break that long (almost THREE weeks) from a classroom until I went to college. The break generally went from December 23  to January 2, unless the second fell on Saturday.

Even during the Covid period, class was held remotely via Google Classroom or other online app.

There are several  reasons, of course, why this is so.  First and foremost, no time was used for "hurricane days" , which is similar to "snow days" in other part of the country.

Also, school begins on August 10 and ends on May 31. There is no winter break in February, as there is in other colder places.

Additionally, there are no days set aside for any religious observances, except Good Friday. And while there is a Spring Break in March, several Federal holidays, like Columbus Day and Juneteeth, are used elsewhere in the calendar.

Finally, as required in other school districts throughout the country, students are scheduled to attend 180 days of school each year.

So, as Florida's students begin the wind down to their Christmas breaks, Friday will be used mostly to get Federal monies for lunches and other programs, as students begin their celebrations with class parties, and perhaps, early dismissals.

It REALLY IS beginning to look  a lot like Christmas!

Live A Long Life, Cardinal Dolan!

Reports began circulating yesterday that Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will be stepping down from his post as soon as Pope Leo names his replacement. As required by Church custom, Cardinal Dolan submitted his resignation in February upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Like him or not, one must admit he has been a man of principle, as he has tried to help steer the Church away from the disgrace of the actions of so many of his fellow clergymen, first as a priest, then as a bishop and finally, as a Cardinal.

 

In addition, he defended the Church's stance in February, 2012, where he criticized the Obama Administration when it required and mandated that Catholic employers offer artificial contraception to female employees contrary to Catholic teachings. After this, and the various lawsuits brought by Catholic organizations, the Obama Administration amended its rule to require insurers, not employers, to require coverage.

In June, 2020, after the shooting of George Floyd and its subsequent aftermath, he attempted to speak to both the protesters and police. Cardinal Dolan argued that police were mostly good people and compared them to priests. He also said that the protesters had an important message. He agreed that while he believed "black lives matter", he stated "all lives matter" and "police lives matter", too.

In June, 2023, Outreach Catholic, an LGBTQ Catholic advocacy group, held a conference at Fordham University. Pope Francis sent his best wishes to the conference attendees. Prior to the event, Dolan sent a letter to Reverend James Martin, the leader of Outreach, stating: "It is the sacred duty of the Church and Her ministers to reach out to those on the periphery and draw them to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Your vital and important ministry is a valuable and necessary contribution to that effort."

And in 2004, then-Bishop Dolan delivered the eighteenth Erasmus Lecture, titled The Bishops in Council, organized by First Things magazine and the Institute on Religion and Public Life. In his address, Dolan reflected on the history and role of episcopal collegiality in the Catholic Church, emphasizing the theological and pastoral importance of bishops working together in service to unity and mission. The lecture examined both the historical roots of church councils and their continuing significance for contemporary Catholic leadership.

All In all, he has been a consistent conservative Prelate, guiding the faithful to keep their faith, while recognizing that the world around them has changed. In keeping with Christ's message, Cardinal Dolan has attempted to lead with mercy and forgiveness, while retaining what he believes are the precepts of the Church.

While the challenges have been difficult, he has mostly succeeded. For that, he can take solace.

God Bless him as he heads to his retirement.

Beethoven, Shroeder and Charlie Brown

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Two hundred fifty-five years ago, on this day, Ludwig von Beethoven was believed to be born in Bonn, Germany, and baptized the next day.

One of the most revered figures in the history of Western music, his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the classical  period to the romantic era. Beethoven's early period, during which he forged his craft, is typically considered to have lasted until 1802. From 1802 to around 1812, his middle period showed an individual development from the styles of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and is sometimes characterized as heroic. During this time, Beethoven began to grow increasingly deaf. In his late period, from 1812 to 1827, he extended his innovations in musical form and expression.

If you recall, Charles Schulz gave rise to a universal knowledge of Beethoven by giving his character, Shroeder, an interest and fandom to Beethoven by placing his bust on the child's toy piano. This was highlighted in the 1965 animated production of A Charle Brown Christmas.

The special was commissioned and sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, was written over a period of several weeks, and produced on a small budget in six months. In casting the characters, the producers took an unconventional route, hiring child actors. The program's soundtrack was similarly unorthodox, featuring a jazz score by pianist Vince Guaraldi, which was unlike the music of Beethoven.

For many years, this thirty-minute episode was a staple of the holiday season on network television, until it became  exclusively available on the Apple TV+ streaming service.

Like Beethoven, the music played by the Vince Guaraldi Trio is classical and timeless during the Christmas season. Its introductory song, Christmastime Is Here, is as recognizable as Beethoven"s Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy, and Fur Elise, which both appear, as played by Shroeder.

As much as we celebrate A Charlie Brown Christmas, we should equally remember the birthday of Ludwig von Beethoven. Both gave us great music to enjoy during the holiday season.

And each continue to brighten our lives this month.

Another Wasted Death

Once again, America faces a tragedy which should not have occurred. It doesn't matter whether you liked his politics or not. He was a talented director who made some of the most beloved movies.

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their Brentwood mansion by one of their daughters, allegedly murdered by their son, Nicky.  This is this a classic case of domestic violence at its highest.

Rob Reiner was the director of classic films like "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," "A Few Good Men," "Stand by Me," "This Is Spinal Tap," "Misery" and many more. He was  also forever known as Mike Stivic, Archie Bunker's son-in-law on the classic TV show, "All In the Family".

While he was an outspoken critic of both Donald Trump and the Republican Party,  this is America; where free speech is allowed, even when one disagrees with the message and the messenger. While I chose to ignore what he said, I believe in his right to say it. 

This is what we have lost over the last few years. It was evident when Charlie Kirk was killed; his death seemed to be celebrated by those who disliked or disagreed with him. We should not stoop to that same level of disrespect.

Today, I am saddened that we will no longer enjoy the works of a talented director, other than those we have seen already.

May both Rob and Michele Reiner rest in peace. AMEN.

A Holiday Fantasy Thought to Destress

With twelve days until Christmas Eve, are you stressing yet? Is your baking started? Christmas Tree up? Presents wrapped? And are you sending cards out this year?

Hanukkah starts at sundown on Sunday niight. Is your Menorah set and ready to go? Got the various latkes recipes and blintzes for everyone's tastes? How about the Sufganiyot and the Rugelach for dessert?

Ah, yes. That Most Wonderful Time of the Year. 

You know, maybe Italians have the right idea by taking the month of August off for "Ferragosto", or August Rest, so they can enjoy the summer. Not a bad idea.

But, instead, we should make it from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day so we can get everything done for the holidays. And purge ourselves from the stress which traditionally builds up all through December.

And we could really enjoy the sights and lights, as we not only have peace on earth... and to ourselves. That would be a great present we could ALL enjoy.

When the celebrations are done and we return to our normal winter lives, we can look back on truly great memories with fondness, rather than relief, as we feel refreshed and recharged from our "Festa d' Inverno" or Winter Festival. That would be great!

So, close your eyes, take deep breath and relax. You will get through it; you always do. Maybe even if you only imagine this could be real for a moment, your stress will clear away and make it disappear. 

With tales of the glories. Or fantasies.

Wouldn't it be wonderful?