It was several years ago. We had a few days left in Italy before our return flight to New York when we got a phone call from the airline that an airport strike was planned for noon the next day and we could catch an early flight to Paris. That would leave us with the whole day in Paris before our evening flight back to New York. We had it all planned. We wouldn't waste the day at the airport. We'd check our luggage and spend the day in Paris and visit the neighborhood where we had stayed on a previous trip.

From the Huffington Post, 10 Ways To Have a Spritually Refreshing New Year Couldn't have made a better list myself. 1. Choose a word of the year.

I believe in New Year’s resolutions and there are always themes. For example, losing that 10 pounds is always right up there on my list. So is putting my technology away when it should be away. OK, so maybe I am not always successful in keeping my resolutions.

  There are certain days of the year that I feel re-energized. Almost as if it’s time to start again. The day after Labor Day is one of those times. After slowing down a bit over the summer, the Tuesday after Labor Day    

Star Wars is back! And who would not go see it? We did, of course.  

As is the tradition, for me, it's time to pontificate, use hyperbole, educated speculation and blowing smoke. Yes...it's prediction time!   Let's take a peak at my track record   2007 - 1 for 7. (my rookie year:)2008 - 1 for 1 (gutsy picking one but it was spot on)2009 - 3 for 5 2010 - 2 for 32011 - 3 for 3!!! 2012 - 3 for 3!!!2013 I took a break, the launch of the new website took all my attention2014 - 2 for 32015 - 0 for 3, bad year but came close on the stock market  

As 2015 came to a close with a crescendo of "Happy Holidays" and parties I look back on the year.  It was, for me, a very good year.  First and foremost our family (immediate and Gotham) is thriving and healthy.  Secondly, I enjoyed a number of highlights along the way. 

December 31st sixteen years ago and we were all worrying about the imminent disaster of “Y2K” that was to occur when computers did not recognize the year 2000. Without such concerns looming today, we are able to reflect upon the past year and formulate our hopes for the coming year. May today be a day of reflection and may all of our hopes for the New Year be realized. Happy New Year!