today was fairly good… I had an early hot tub, even though it was minus thirty-four or some such thing, because I just had to have one last one in 2012… the boys came over, Jeff added water to the hot tub, and we went grocery shopping…

usually on New Year’s Eve, George would have barbecued steak and lobster for dinner… as the kids were having a party, I decided we should have the special dinner tomorrow night, so no one would have to do any rushing around… George would barbecue on a regular basis and I miss that… I am going to have to put on those big girl pants and do it myself one of these days…

while we were out I bought some nice stuffed scallops, fresh asparagus and mushrooms for my supper…  I anticipated that the evening would be a little sad, but didn’t really feel like being around partying people…

this year’s New Year’s Eve dinner…

had my dinner and have just been watching the fireworks which our Community Club has on New Year’s Eve…  often we would be watching TV and one of us would hear the sound, and we would stand together in the dining room watching them out the window…  tonight I did that on my own…

fireworks through the window…

I am saying farewell to a rough year, and trying hard to look toward the excitement and new things that will be 2013… I look forward to tomorrow and starting new traditions with my family… fancy dinner on New Year’s Day… family vacation… who knows what else…

I have come through the death of my beloved, a cancer diagnosis, big surgery and a long recovery…  now I am healthy and surrounded by people who care about me… I continue to be blessed…

if I awake at midnight I will toast my beloved, the past and coming year, and maybe speak with my girls… if not, I will start the new year in the morning with a smile…

may your New Year be filled with precious moments and much love and laughter…