New Year’s Eve day… With all the disastrous crazy crazy unpleasant things that went on in our lives and in the world this year, it’s still been a good year. I’m sitting here at my desk looking out at my beloved spruce tree, branches covered with snow. Out my  other window are the huge maples planted from seedlings by our4 year old son, 50 years ago, and the large crab apple tree, squirrels scampering here and there. My garden is a bundled up for the winter, bulbs resting and gathering nutrients; I know they’ll bloom beautifully in the spring. So- what’s good about this new years eve? Life and hope, I guess. Hal is sitting in the next room in his wheelchair, his back to me. He’s reading something;  it’s a joy to see him sitting there. We’re still both here together in this house, safe, comfortable in a room that’s warm enough (with a whole new  cord of  wood for the fire; gift money arrived to buy that, thankful for people’s gifts!)), enough food to eat, and we’re together,  that’s the big deal! This new year, 2026,  marks the start of 62 years that we have been together! Even though Hal cannot talk or walk, his smile is all here, full presence with love!