It hardly seems possible that another Christmas has come and gone. I think it comes quicker than it goes, but then that is just my opinion.

We were sitting for the last time around the Christmas tree which was about to be disassembled and I happen to say, “I can’t believe Christmas is over. Where does the time go?”

To that, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage looked at me and said, “The older you get, the faster time goes.”

I remember as if it was yesterday when without thinking, which is usually dangerous for me, I once responded, “You must know.”

I got the “stare” that encouraged me not to respond in that vein ever again.

Memory is a very tricky thing, at least for me it is. Looking back over a year's span of activity, my memory seems to pick and choose what it remembers. After all, I do not have the brain capacity I once had.

Often some old-timer will moan about how much he misses the good old days. I am not sure if he is thinking of World War II or the Great Depression. I am positive that during the Great Depression, some wonderful memories were created, but I am not sure anyone wants to return to those thrilling days of yesterday.

The bad was not as bad as we remember and the good not as good as we boast.

Some things are best forgotten, while some things should never be forgotten; my trouble has always been remembering which is which.

This is not my first rodeo when it comes to New Years. I have ridden this Bronco so many times I cannot remember how many. Well, I can remember, but I am not going to let that slip. Something to do with a New Year’s Resolution.

Back in the days of youth, I used to stay up to watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop. Now, I see so many people drop the ball during the year that I don’t want to see another one on New Year’s Eve. I’ve seen enough of that.

At my stage in life, health is more important than watching something I have seen a thousand times before.

New Year's Day was filled with lots of excitement, plenty of grandchildren running around and enough food on the table to eliminate world hunger. Actually, it did eliminate my ravishing hunger, at least for the day.

Both the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly simultaneously signed a deep sigh. My wife sat in her chair thinking and I, reclining in my chair musing. Believe me, we both had a lot to think about and muse over.

The difference between thinking and musing is quite profound. Thinking requires a lot of hard work while musing is closely related to amusing, although I am not quite sure about the connection. All I know is it takes less energy to muse than it does to think and I'm all for saving energy.

I had just gotten into a rather delightful muse when my wife made a very startling announcement.

Afrikaans - Geseënde kersfees en voorspoedige nuwe jaar

Apache (Western) - Gozhqq Keshmish

Arabic - I'D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida

Croatian - Sretan Bozic

Danish - Glædelig Jul oggodt nytår

It has been a quiet week in the parsonage, notwithstanding the lack of cooperation from Mr. Weatherman.

As the thermometer dipped, I ducked inside and sought the warmth of my easy chair. Since coming to Florida, my blood must have thinned to anemic levels. I know cold is cold -- but I have been freezing my dignity off.

It has been so cold my teeth have been chattering so much the good Mistress of the Parsonage made me take them out of the glass next to our bed.

It has been so cold my shivers have been wearing sweaters.

It has been so cold my unborn great-great-grandchildren have begun to shiver.

"Don't get yourself down," my wife said, "it'll all be over in a week or two."