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Thoughts on a New Year

When the Allman Brothers recorded their famous "Soulshine," I thought the lyrics true. Sounds good: Soulshine better than moonshine? Wonder if that's so.

Last week an anonymous benefactor dropped off a newly-corked bottle of Glen Ellen moonshine. Maybe living the soulshine is truly best ... but I'll tell you, Glen Ellen moonshine might serve as well in a stormy pinch - which can surely arrive for any of us, unbidden at the holidays. Yes, my benefactor: it did help the soulshine and I thank you sincerely.  Now onto the news of the week.

Which reminds me - long ago when Sweetie and I lived on the East Coast, in Albany, N.Y., actually, we frequented a tiny restaurant in the vicinity of Sweetie's printing press. Can't remember the café's name, but one menu item sticks with me, even today: pudding of the week. Eech! Always made me slightly nauseous. I don't mean eating the pudding, simply looking at the name was enough to upend my innards. Nothing weekly is ever fresh, or tasty, or of interest. Yet, here I be: offering you the Glen Ellen chatter of the week. Well, glory be. Skip the pudding; stick with the gravy, right here.

On this, the first Tuesday of a new month, a new year - in fact, the very year that the Mayans predicted the end, I see we're still here. And intend to stay, at least for a while. While the Mayans may have chosen the year 2012, the Episcopalians, as odd to me as Mayans, keep the years rolling until 2033. Which seems better odds from this perspective. I'll go with the WASPS this round. And you? If you have news of dire predictions in 2012, let us know.

As this New Year unfolds and presents itself not so unlike the previous year, I wonder if you, like us, are making room for the new in your life? We always try, though rarely succeed, in making space for a new year in our late year lives. Last week, we denizens of Creekbottom House spent several days clearing out the detritus of a past year.

Rarely is this entirely successful, but we do make a dent in the accumulated stuff. In fact, if you frequent the Sonoma County Library book sales, you'll see lots of contributions from Creekbottom House this month. Sometimes I think the paycheck goes straight from work to Andy's to our shelves to the library book sale. Ah well, it's good for circulation: ours (as we lift and heft heavy books), yours (as you do ditto) and the library's, as its income inflates in direct proportion to our shrinkage. Good all around.

We welcome this New Year and look forward to improvements: where? In ourselves primarily, but in the economy, in the commerce of a small burg like Glen Ellen, and, especially, in our hearts and minds. Best wishes for a wonderful New Year 2012 to you my dear and faithful readers.

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Share your good news with friends and neighbors in Glen Ellen. Call or write me at 996-5995 or P.O. Box 518, GE 95442. Or email me at creekbottom@earthlink.net. Glen Ellen chatter rarely requires timeliness; however, if your news does, please be sure to contact me at least two weeks before the run date.