The sun goes down on a decade

As the sun sets on this decade I think I'm glad to see the end of it. It started with a bang as the new millenium (remember that?) came swinging in.  And here we are ten years later still suffering fallout from terrorist threats in America, struggling to surface from economic meltdown, reeling from unemployment and on the verge of catastrophic environmental collapse.  I'm ready for a new decade. 

And yet, there is so much to celebrate.  In my own life I've done a lot in these past ten years.  I've seen my son grow up to be a sweet and capable young man, who's also funny and smart.  I've learned many new things (dog behaviour, ESL teaching, chairing meetings come to mind).  I've taken on new roles and stepped forward on a few different fronts. I've made some wonderful new friends and deepened connections with old ones.

And everywhere I look I see people sharing a smile, expressing love and caring, finding joy in every day and working to make things better in our world. I've come to know that whatever life throws at us we can learn from and grow through.  And I know that the power of love and hope is incredibly strong. I'm hopeful about the new decade--and I hope that you are too.

We went up to the top of the Freedman Hotel tonight to watch the sun set over the ocean.  And it was beautiful to see the light reflected in the sky and the water of the pool.  As dusk fell one of the huge cruise ships gently wafted out to sea.  And then the full moon rose directly opposite where the sun had set.  It's a blue moon; the second full moon this month.  I think it augers well for the coming decade.
May all your new years dreams come true.