Concentrating on the bright side of a unique, complicated year my positive highlights are:1) Appreciable Gotham growth and community 2) Visiting mile marker 823) Grandson Shawn becomes an Eagle Scout4) Shawn and sister Ruby compete in Gotham Battle of the Bands5) A good friend is cancer free6) Family picture on Rao's wall7) 4 months without Drinking8) Return to drinking9) Less knee pain10) Batting practice with my son David and grandson Jackson11) Granddaughter Maggie's Tik Tok videos12) Daily posting of Joanne Klein Art

I have an old leather “weekender” bag. Leather hand and shoulder strap—no wheels.We have dear friends with whom we have celebrated New Year’s Eve for over twenty years (save one).

SOme people make predictions for the comoing year, others make New Years Resolutions. Often times New Years Resolutions are broken in the first few months. A few years ago I made a resolution to give up soda and I did. Rarely do I have it, I dont miss it. More and more often on Instagram ill see a video using Coke to clean a rusty old wrench. Scary if you thin that you are putting that in your body and it can clean an old rusty wench. I have not made a New Years resolution since. What is your New Years Resolution? or predictions for 2025? 

As we end 2024, I am reflecting on what a year it has been in Gotham.  So much change in a good way – new groups, new friends, new events.  Yet as we keep doing this thing called Gotham, so much stays the same.  

Can you work with music playing?   On Saturday mornings I generally write my blogs. I always have music on during that time.  Some Saturday mornings, when I am finished with the blog writing, I will catch up on some work.  

At the end of each year I traditionally rank my top ten concerts.  This year I took a different approach.  I shared a chronological listing as I found it difficult to rank them.  As I related in my commentary,

It’s that time of year again—time to make my predictions for the upcoming events! Or, in other words, take a few shots in the dark. :)   Last year, I made a record-breaking six predictions and went 4-for-6. Since 2007, my total record stands at 29 out of 57—putting me at a .508 batting average.   Here are my three predictions for 2024:

Last week I wrote about my most poignant Christmas memory, it  involved my mother giving and then taking away a prized toy top on Christmas Day when I was a little boy.