2026 Life Logs, Day 14: Promises, Promises
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Weather: Partly Sunny, Warmer; High 47, Low Temp 42 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
I promised myself to get the last of the Christmas decorations down today, and I kept that promise. It was warm (upper 40’s) and dry, so the perfect day to unwind the more than 2.000 feet of garland wrapped around the rail fence out front and store it away until next Christmas. Each garland is 18 ft long and it takes 10 to do the front fence. I can now say that, for me, Christmas is officially over.
I also have promised myself to always put family and friends above the crazy busy volunteer schedule I maintain these days. I was out running errands this morning and saw Bruce Woodin. He invited me to come have lunch with him and Jane at the Senior Center. I immediately started by responding that I didn’t have time, but I stopped myself mid-sentence and said I’d love to come. I saw a number of people I know while at lunch. The food was good and the camaraderie even better. One little step toward keeping that promise.
So. two promises kept today. But the promise to slow down my schedule a bit is going to take a little longer to accomplish. I ended the day with a two-hour meeting and have more of the same tomorrow and Friday. Then, this weekend, I am going to take a close look at my calendar and see if I can’t find a way to slow things down a bit going forward.
I had a wonderful conversation with my friends Kevin and Claire this afternoon. We had made an ‘appointment’ to talk at 2 pm today, and talk we did! After a break visiting with family over Christmas, they are back in Guaymas, Mexico, working on their boat. The projects to get it ready to sail go on and on, but I think they are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, they are beginning to see some backlash against Americans due to what we have done in Venezuela. Guaymas, and close by San Carlos, have a lot of Americans and Canadians that winter there. If we can’t get things under control in this country, I fear there is going to be backlash against Americans all around the world.
Last night and tonight, I took time to get on my exercise bike for the first time since Christmas and watch a little MS Now. What I saw happening in Minnesota last night and tonight was so hard to watch. The cruelty of ICE being unleased on the people of Minnesota is beyond inhumane. We have got to push our senators and representatives to do what they can to stop this madness. But that is only going to happen if public pressure increases. And that means each of us has to do our part.. And that means I need to do more. So, so much for the promises of slowing down. It probably isn’t going to happen.
