< Notes...

Happy New Year of the Horse, everyone! May this year be good or, at the very least, better than the Snake we are leaving behind. This year is, on its entirety, the year of my Horsie, which is, well, a Horse! 😅

Coming to terms with the fact that no show, however good, could last for ever. The brief glimpse at what it feels like to be retired has come to an end. Tomorrow is business as usual, back to work. Yay! 🥳

Last note of 2025. Happy new 2026, everyone! We watched quite a few movies and series during this break. I will try to remember and recollect some of them later next year. Time, as always, seems to have slipped through fingers; simply incredible.

For the first time the boy isn’t spending the new year’s evening with us. There is a time for everything, right? Still, it feels odd, and we miss him very, very much. We miss the girl too.

Recently we went on holidays on a cruise ship. Saying that I didn’t enjoy the small break would be a lie, yet, over and over, this kept haunting me. After having fun, or feeling happy, I couldn’t help feeling guilty. Is it fair to have fun, when so many people suffer? With so much tragedy, wars, and seemingly hopeless, unforeseen future for many, how can I be happy without regrets?

These two photos were taken by Horsie somewhere in Rome, NY, in December, 2019. That’s the kind of winter I wish we’d have. Instead all we have is 24°C, with 58% of humidity.

These are delightful and, on their own, one of the real reasons for the end-of-year holidays: Italian Panettones. I know they have plenty of carbs and sugars and, yet, can’t stop munching them accompanied by a cold glass of milk.

Thanksgiving was a success! We had 21 people joining us, so much food that everyone got to pack take-away at the end of the night. Afterwards cleaning is complete, all is well.

Today’s coolish, with 6°C earlier this morning, and sunshine. After coffee with mum, and an early 2 miles walk with dad, it is time to chill in the comfiness of my couch.

Heavy cleaning towards Thanksgiving celebration/hosting completed. That means toilets gleam, showers sparkle, and overall kitchen area looks OKish. Got to wait until everyone is awake (yes, some are still in bed here), to finish up one bathroom, and for some cooking to end, to tidy up the kitchen. I’ll say half way there. 😅

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we are hosting, like we do almost every year. This time around we are expecting 22 people, all family. As you can imagine, it is going to be a busy day. I am on clean up duty, before and afterwards. Yay! 😅 Still, happy to see a bunch of the family at once, and share a meal with them. As Horsie said, elders have their time left counted—but, don’t we all?—and we never know if we will be able to share a day again with them.

Just a short one to note that Christmas has been declared in full swing for a week now—ever since we got our first cold front. Not only stores are selling the season’s fares, but radio stations are playing Christmas’ music all day long. It all started 1 November. So, happy holidays, am I right?! 🤭

Awesome Father’s Day this year (it isn’t never bad but this year felt a bit more… “special”). And to top it off, I am off tomorrow. Yay! And while having “off” around, off I go to watch “Jujutsu Kaisen”, season 2!

Now I have watched enough “Jujutsu Kaisen” season 2 (★★★★☆) episodes to be able to rate it. The rating is based on my difficulty to understand what’s going on. Honestly, if it weren’t for the kid, who patiently—but mockingly—explains things to me, I would be lost.

Stayed overnight at an AirBnB in Cocoa Beach, and woke up without being able to beat the sunrise—which was the “plan” before going to sleep, LOL. Nevertheless, had a nice stroll on an almost deserted beach. Today’s “Father’s Day”, so off we go for dim sum!

It is my last day. I knew all along it was coming; after all, nothing lasts forever. It’s been great, though, I truly enjoyed the ride: coffees with mum each day, lazying around afterwards. What would you do if today was your last vacation day, and work was waving at you, just a few hours ahead? Would you greet it with anxiety, joy, acceptance?

Mum’s Day today. Kim gets to do whatever she wants today. Pretty much as she does each day. Yay! LOL.

Holidays are fastly approaching, and I have been experiencing that mixed happy/melancholic feeling that comes with them. There are always ups and downs, but when extra—as in, non-expected—downs come around this season, my melancholy increases.

I wish all that come around the very best for that next round we call 2025. For those I know, please know I care about you, and keep you in my thoughts daily.