Monday December 31, 2007
Well. That was the year, that was. Not my finest, but then it doesn’t seem to have been all that wonderful in the world about me.
I’m not sure I want to review either world–mine, or the one about me–and, as I decided some time back, probably around my last birthday, I have now arrived at the age where I don’t do things I don’t want to do, and don’t give reasons or excuses.
As to next year, well, it might be alright. It could be ghastly, but I suspect that, on balance, in a year’s time, it’ll have turned out to be… alright.
I’m neither optimistic about it, nor pessimistic. It’ll happen. It’ll be alright. Check back in twelve months to see if I am right. I’ll be here, writing a little every day, making pictures when I’m of a mind, and doing my best to smile more often than I frown.
And, observing that which must be observed, I wish you all a peaceful and happy New Year, with few problems, and all of those ones you can handle. I wish no more than that for myself.
Finally, and as always, thanks for reading!
The author, webmaster, and minder of the cat
35 responses so far ↓
Jim in Vegas // December 31, 2007 at 10:57 am
Greeting to everyone from Las Vegas. Have a Healthy and Happy New Year everyone!
Phil // December 31, 2007 at 11:33 am
Happy New Year John, Graham and everyone around the world. Hope everyone has a great 2008.
Alison P // December 31, 2007 at 11:47 am
Happy New Year to the three of you too. I find New Year vaguely depressing but I suspect that says more about my Eeyore nature than anything!
gary // December 31, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I wouldn’t mind seeing a speech, where you tearfully address the crowd of OGP readers and tell us you would be nothing without us….
David Thickett // December 31, 2007 at 12:28 pm
May the new year bring you all you’d wish yourselves (although I dread to think what Dolly might wish for !) and I shall be here, next year (!) poised and ready to follow as avidly as ever.
David.
CBG Dee // December 31, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Gary is cracking me up but I think I’ve stopped snorting and spewing morning coffee long enough to wish everyone a happy, healthy and bountiful New Year. Thank you, John, for having us in your casa and, as always, extra scritchy-scratchies for Dolly the Magnificent.
Kate & Jim // December 31, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Happy New Year, everyone. May we all have minimal problems and maximum joy!
Shirley // December 31, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Thank you for writing. I only recently found your blog, and it has since become a quiet pleasure for me to read it. So I wish you and Graham and Dolly a year of good health, simple pleasures and mild excitements.
bonnie // December 31, 2007 at 1:09 pm
You certainly summed my life up quite nicely.
My wishes are the same to you.
Oop // December 31, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Reading the comments, I found that I expect something from the next year after all. I hope it will be full of little quiet pleasures, and that’s about it. Big changes tend to stir everything up, little things live and let us live. Can’t say I learnt it entirely from you, but I thank you for the realization. I guess that’s why I keep visiting this place, time after time.
Happy New Year and everything else. Happy Dolly.
Alison // December 31, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Shirley hit the nail on the head. This blog certainly is a quiet pleasure to read, and quiet pleasures are the kind I like best. .. I was going to say ‘these days’ but I think I always have.
May we all have many more of them. Happy New Year!
mercystreet // December 31, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Happy New Year to all. May it be a wonderful one.
S // December 31, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Hello Mr. Bailey,
Thank you, as always, for writing. I believe we on this side have got the easier end of the bargain.
Salud!
gary // December 31, 2007 at 2:23 pm
John makes it look easy, as if he was an experienced brain surgeon or rocket scientist. Some people can take interesting material and write it into the ground, John’s talent is for giving life to the ordinary, in a sweet and simple style.
(That’ll cost you five bucks, please)
mageb // December 31, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Thanks for starting my day every day for another year. You have been good company, and always started my days off on the right foot. Happy New year.
Mary Lee // December 31, 2007 at 3:05 pm
I think Gary got it right. John gives a turn to things, to the ordinariess of daily living that brings them into attention and makes me, at least, delight in whatever it is just that extra little bit more. Write on, John, right on. And a wonderful New Year to one and all here.
CircusKelli // December 31, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Happy New Year, John!
May your 2008 be a little better than “alright.”
Linda Ball // December 31, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Have a great 2008, John. And thanks for giving us a year of great writing and a glimpse into your life.
Bex // December 31, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Happy New Year to you, John, Graham, and Dolly. Big hugs for you all, and a wish that 2008 will be all new and exciting as we follow the daily goings and comings of a most beloved old gray poet.
~ Sil in Corea // December 31, 2007 at 3:50 pm
May you have just enough joy, good health, prosperity, good fellowship and tomfoolery to keep you smiling. Hope your move goes easily and you find yourself in a truly congenial spot.
Lots of Love,
~ Sil
Margery // December 31, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Happy New Year, John, Graham, Dolly and everyone. You’ve pretty well all said it; Gary’s got it right and like Mageb, you enrich my day with your writing. Be well, big hugs, and a wish for a gentler time. Can’t hurt to wish, right? And New Year’s is the time to do it.
Christy // December 31, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Wish Graham, Dolly and you a bright and happy 2008 — from the future on the other side of the globe where it hasn’t happened yet.
K8 // December 31, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Wishing you & Graham a year of quiet pleasures: good health, prosperity, peacefulness, etc. The small everyday things seem to be more important in these older years, don’t they?
marty // December 31, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Happy New Year to you, Graham and Dolly.
happy New year to all of your readers, as well.
Betty Lou // December 31, 2007 at 5:25 pm
In addition to all of the above, as Tiny Tim might say, “Happy New Year to us, everyone”.
B.J. // December 31, 2007 at 6:09 pm
A very happy 2008 to you, John, Graham and Dolly, and many thanks for letting me into your life! A peaceful and satisfying year to all whom I have come to know by our mutual reading addiction!!
Jim // December 31, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I had a nice long nap after getting back home from this morning’s activities, but I’m still not sure I will be awake at midnight local time to raise a glass of wine (with or without bubbles), so instead I raise my coffee mug in the general direction of England and wish a happy new year to you and Graham and Dolly.
Lynda in Idaho // December 31, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I will add to the best wishes offered here by wishing you, Graham and Dolly a happy, heathy and prosperous New Year, with all the love your heart can hold.
wayne // December 31, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Happy New Year to all.
Twilight(Ann) // January 1, 2008 at 12:19 am
I’ve just heard Big Ben chime midnight in London, via the internet, on Steve Wright’s raidio show -
Here in Oklahoma it’s still early evening - we won’t have any chimes later- only fireworks from the neighbours going on for hours!
Happy New Year to y’all.
oldgreypoet // January 1, 2008 at 12:21 am
Happy New Year to you all! Big Ben has chimed, my first glass is nearly empty, but it’s already been raised in all directions to you!
Edward McCain // January 1, 2008 at 2:11 am
Best wishes to all from the McCain family in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Josephine // January 1, 2008 at 3:31 am
Yet another year of allowing me to visit your home day after day
I treasure my visits.
I wish you all in the Bailey household a very Happy and Healthy New Year, I’ll be following the saga, as per usual….
Happy New Year to everyone from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee…..
Tim Reed // January 1, 2008 at 5:22 am
The NYC ball just dropped a few minutes ago, so it is the new year along the eastern seaboard.
Happy New Year to one and all.
wendync // January 1, 2008 at 6:15 am
And if I don’t hie myself off to bed soon, I’ll be seeing John’s notify for his first entry of the new year. Ah, the joy of time zones. Happy 2008 to all, wherever in the process you are.
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