The End Is Near.

I can’t believe 2014 is over in four days.  Where did all the time go?  And why do I have only four days left in my self-imposed deadline to have Kaldis #7 finished by December 31?

The good news about this time of the year is that the Greek Parliament is busily giving me new material for Kaldis #8. I mean, how can one not be appreciative of a government body that gives we writers so much grist for our tales of societal intrigues, self-interest, and threatened revolutionary shakeups.  For example, in two days a vote requiring 180 of the 300 Members of Parliament to elect a new, but totally ceremonial, President of Greece, threatens to bring down the sitting government, force immediate new Parliamentary elections, and fracture Greece’s ties to the European Union. 

It’s a situation that has the world (and local) financial markets betting that the country is headed toward modern day economic oblivion.  Personally, I think short-term personal interests on the part of Greece’s MPs will keep things together for as long as possible; if only so the MPs don’t lose their 6000 euros a month paychecks (plus perqs) when many are booted out of Parliament in the next election and thrown back into the ranks of their 28% unemployed constituency—where 800 euros per month is considered a solid wage. 

As for the country’s long term prospects…

Well, I don’t want to talk about any of that. We’re into the festive Holiday Season. Let’s rejoice, dance, sing, and carry on.

I want to do all the things on New Years Eve that Yrsa will be doing in Reykjavik, Stan and Michael in South Africa, Annamaria in NYC (sorry, EvKa, maybe Portland for her next year), Cara in Paris, Caro in Glasgow, Lisa who knows where, and Zoe anywhere she wants.

I want to be thankful for all the very good things that happened in 2014—at the top of the list being that my children, grandchildren, Barbara and all our extended family are healthy and doing well (puh, puh, puh)—and pray that our world will somehow find its way back to sanity in 2015.

Yes, I’m in a prayerful mood. Perhaps because I’ve retreated to the refuge of my farm, a place for thinking, planning, rebooting, and writing. Here I’m surrounded by nature most basic, not man most basic—unless, of course, I turn on the television, read a newspaper, listen to the radio, or scan the Internet. So why do that?  Except if the Steelers are playing.

Normally the ground around here is covered with snow by now, but rains and a (relatively) warm stretch have chased every bit of white off the landscape.  The sky is wintry gray and plots of green persist of course, but much of the ground lay in naked shades of chocolate, beige and tan.

Not my barn, Or horses, A neighbor's.

My barn remains red, though, and its repairs are almost finished (after a year and a half). Fences around the pasture are falling down. I normally replace posts and rails as soon as they fail, but I’ve decided not to this year. I’m decided to open up the land.  Give it more of a park-like feel, one where the bears, deer, turkeys, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes can wander free…not that any of them respect the fences anyway. But it’s a change.  And change is good.

My barn.

Changes of seasons are good.  Changes of clothes are good.  Changes of governments are good…or so one can hope.

Happy New Year, one and all, and may each of you find true happiness and great joy in 2015 and far, far beyond.

Jeff—Saturday