Saturday 2 January 2010

Reflections on the Start of Another New Year

Are we going to call it Twentyten? Or Twothousandandten? I prefer the former. It rolls off the tongue easier.

Some people are saying that midnight on New Year's Eve brought the start of a new decade, especially the dad in this story. But other people insist that the next decade starts in 2011. Who's right?
Whatever decade camp you belong to, there's no doubt that a New Year provides a fresh start to many people.

But it can also bring endings.
I was told yesterday that the former Space Cadet passed away suddenly on Christmas Day. A sad day for his family.
And I heard today that a childhood friend in England lost his fight for life a couple of months ago.
Canada lost another of our brave soldiers in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve, and four more Canadian soldiers and a reporter were killed by a Taliban bomb three days ago.
My heart goes out to all bereaved families.

Good things happen too.
OlderSon and The Equestrienne just installed a new wood-burning sealed unit fireplace that will enable them to heat their home at minimal cost. They're spending lots of time sitting by the fire!
YoungerSon and The Bride have only a few days of packing left before they say goodbye to their home of the past 2-1/2 years and make the move to a bigger house in this small town. They'll be closer to work, and closer to me!
My little grandsons Callum and Isaac are thriving.
And I'm planning to make my own move later this year.... maybe.....

Here's to 2010! Good Health, Happiness, and may you be surrounded by good friends and family.... and keep buying those lottery tickets, you never know your luck!

22 comments:

  1. I am so sorry for the passing of the Space Cadet....and all of the others. Are you going to move from that stunning home of yours? Scaling down? I wish Steve would agree to do just that. My wish for you in 2010 is one of even more family love.

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  2. It is always a mixed bag, isn't it? The GOOD and The BAD.
    Sorry to read of the BAD or I should really say SAD!
    But there you are with your wonderful family; those two fabulous Grandbaby's...That's All GOOD!

    Hope 2010 is a stellar year for you and yours in every way, my dear!

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  3. I bet they had the same argument in 1910. "Hey, Bertha, will we say nineteen ten or one thousand nine hundred and ten?"

    "Oh, Cyril, lets be different and say nineteen hundred and ten".

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  4. Some sad news indeed. We also lost Pa this past summer, but let's look forward to the good of 2010. Wishing you and your family the best of health, happiness and love for the coming year, Sham! We sure have our plans :)

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  5. It sure has been a sad start to the year in some respects. That Highway of Heroes is getting far too much traffic these days.

    Shammie, in response to your comment on my blog.. I don't see your email address anywhere on yours, so if you'd like, drop me an email thesmittenimage gmail (drop the blanks and add the appropriate @ and .com) and we can at least connect by phone and work out a visit sometime in the new year. I realize your son will no long be in B'ville but you never know when a day trip to S'ville might happen for Frank and me. Or you might be in my neck of the woods at some point. I want that coffee! :)

    Happy New Year to you and yours, my friend.

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  6. Bonne Année from The Other Side of Paris! May it be a good one for you.

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  7. I have enjoyed reading your posts in 2009 and look forward to read many more in 2010. I hope that this coming year will be one of the best for you and that everything you wish for will be realized. Bonne Année!

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  8. That's sad news about Space Cadet and all the others too.
    As Hilary said, the Highway of Heros is getting much too long.
    Wow, moving is a big step but if it makes you happy then Do It!!
    Wishing that the rest of your life will be the best of your life.
    Sue

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  9. Happy New Year! I hope to be blogging (and visiting blogs) on a more regular basis this year.
    Sorry about the losses...that's always hard. So glad your grandchildren will be closer...what a joy!

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  10. Hi there!

    Preferably Twentyten for me!

    2011 is a new decade as 2010 is the 10th year? I don't know, I really don't wanna argue about that LOL!

    Good and bad things really happen, a lot of them are unavoidable. We just gotta strong to conquer em all!

    Much Love,

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  11. The same debate about the decades and centuries ans when we reached the 2000! Obviously there are no strict rules whether we should count from 0 or from 1. Why not celebrate the decade twice, meaning also next year?

    In any case, all my best wishes for 2010!

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  12. A tear and a smile, Sham. Some of the deaths are more shocking than others; some of the new friendships and moves are more exciting than others. Thank God for the mix and the balance. I'm with those who say we start a new decade now. When you turn 1, you start your second year, right?! :) Happy New Year, again.

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  13. I'm sorry to hear about the recent losses.

    I agree that "twenty-ten" is easier to say.

    Those woodburning units are great! I have a friend who heats his house that way. It's cold here (near Chicago), I suppose they'd come in especially handy up in Canada!!

    Happy new year!

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  14. A Very Happy New Year to you, my Canadian penny-gifting friend!

    Just as a note to your opening, at my company (I do voice-work for a living) we are going with two-thousand-ten unless a client specifically asks us to say twenty-ten. I voted for twenty-ten as the norm, but the other phrase carried the majority vote. Oh, well.

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  15. I like twenty-ten, easier to say.
    Sorry to hear about your losses, I heard yesterday that my uncle in the UK died on Saturday, he was 88.
    He joins his brother, my dad, who died in June. I imagine as we age the losses will become more frequent, so all the more reason for us to enjoy each day. Wishing you all the best for Twenty Ten, health and happiness and I see a move in your future...LOL

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  16. We had our fair share of losses last year but they will always stay in my memory. In fact I make a point every so often to remember all those I have lost.

    A belated happy 2010

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  17. Happy New Year - yes, both sad and happy events to kick of another year.
    Hope this winter is not too cold out your way.

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  18. Lots of changes! Life doesn't stay the same...and that's a good thing or we'd all be totally bored. ;-)

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  19. you've got a great way of keeping the positive in the forefront even through all the sadness and chaos.

    How exciting that younger son & bride are moving closer! I can tell your family is close and important to each other.

    Happy New Year Shammie! Keep looking on the bright side and it should help you get though the dark.
    Love and hugs!

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  20. Belated New year Greeting to you and yours.

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  21. It's quite sad to hear that others had a misfortune especially during the holiday seasons. But the best thing to do is just to keep on fighting and move on.

    Happy New Year to you and to your family!

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  22. Sorry to hear about the Space Cadet. The Rabbie Burns Day looked exciting, I love me some vegetarian haggis!

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