New Year … Hope, Dreams, Promises and Resolutions

Midnight, 31st day of December – it is almost like the anti Cinderella moment.  We await that clock to finally move to straight up ahead.  Somehow what we didn’t achieve in 2016 was now going to be possible in 2017.  We have hope, we have hope that our dreams are going to come true. We can lose weight, we will get that new job, we will make money, we will find love.  It is all possible once that clock moves to 12.00. The unknown future date will somehow bring good luck as at 12.00 midnight.  The glamour lasts that whole day. You wish everyone on facebook, on the streets and on the phone.

But by the time 2nd of January rolls around, the cheer, starts to wane.  It could be just the reality hit “it’s just another day” or it could be withdrawals from all the alcohol since Christmas.  But life does become as mundane as it was on the 29th of December.  Still, I think it is alright to have that one moment when the entire world world goes crazy, for love, happiness, peace, and everything else.  Because it’s the starting point that you pin your hopes on.  Without hope there is no motivation for tomorrow.

Each culture and each family would have their own traditions.  Until we came to Adelaide our tradition was to go to Eric and Rajee’s house.  The same crowd got together each year. Our kids were really young. Eric would always have sparklers for young and all.

We brought this tradition with us when we moved to Adelaide.  My cousin did the Christmas and I did the New years Eve.  We had  a set of family and  friends who became regulars for this event.  I love a full house.  The banter, the laughter, the noise, the chaos it all makes it a happy home.

Last night sure was a strange one.  In my nearly 30 year marriage hubby and I have never been apart on New Years.  He is away in Sri Lanka due to his fathers passing.  My youngest is in Japan.  This is the first year, he has missed his birthday, Christmas and New Year from the family.  Mum had to make a dash to Sydney with the forth funeral for the month. Right now there are more pets in the house than humans.

2016 sure has been an interesting year.  The end has come crashing down with four deaths which had put a massive damper on my mood.  But, it had some great moments as well. My son Hari graduated.  His friend Trent graduated.  A Super proud mum – super proud moments.  Hari after a rough start, finally got his first proper job.  I am an Engineers mum.  This mum’s on top of the world.

Then a bunch of us turned 50 this year.  We organised a school reunion and met some of my school friends after nearly 30 years. That was just an awesome time.  We relived our youth. We rekindled our friendship.  Almost a week of celebrations.

My bestie/sis-in-law and I went to Goa to celebrate to our monumental birthday.  Found a new city to be pampered.  Again we laughed till we cried. We ate, we drank and was silly till early hours. Found our youth in between complains of aching bones.

Then came the grand finale.  Bang, bang, bang.  People just dropping like flies to Mortein. Death is part of life and I have to reconcile that.  Hard as it may be to swallow when it’s unexpected and it is someone you want to see again, we still must move on.  Apparently. So I shall not dwell.  Happy that the final news was that my nephews wife is pregnant.

Spoke to hubby around 3.00 am.  He had just got back to the lonely hotel room after visiting relatives.  It might have been around 10.00 or 11.00 pm over there.  I wish he was here.  I see this message on my phone, “are you still up?”  Yes of course I was wide awake counting sheep.  Spoke about the two boys.  Spoke about the dog. We are grateful for what we have and  hopeful of our future.  Cannot ask for more.

Happy 2017 everyone.