01.01.09

January 1st.

Posted in The ins and outs.... at 7:17 pm by smarriott

It’s a New Year. I thought I might mention that in case you, the reader, have been living in some hole somewhere and did not know that. Quite possible, I guess, for someone to not realize it’s the first of the year. Caught me off guard. I worked, OF COURSE. That’s all I’ve been doing lately. I’m not upset about it. Extra pay, where do I sign up? I especially need it with international travels fast approaching.

When I was younger, New Year’s Eve was always a magical time. I loved staying up late and staring down the clock for the exact moment the time changed. It was even better than Xmas, well, in a different way, I guess. It could have been that I just liked getting to stay up late. At the same time, there was something special about the thought of new beginnings, a chance to do everything different. Nothing changed, mind you. But the thought was there and there was something so refreshing about it. This year it was kind of blah. I looked up from charting and it was like “oh, its midnight, time to give X their medicine”. This may sound sad and pathetic, but I don’t think so.

I think it means that right now things are good, grounded maybe. I don’t need new beginnings? I like the thought of that; the idea that I’m not in a temporary place. It could also mean that I’ve grown up and don’t believe in magic anymore. But I’ll choose the less pessimistic view for now. Still there is something pure about a new year, well, once one has come out of the drunken haze of the previous year that is. Not for me. I drove home in a very clairvoyant attitude.

One thing that has always struck me as odd, however, is “year-end reviews.” I saw one on the “Today Show” this morning…. worthless. Maybe they are supposed to be. Then again, I have trouble remembering what I ate for dinner a few nights ago. Forget something that happened back in February, it’s no longer categorized. The big events, sure. Special events, no problem, but honestly, I’ve always preferred the feeling of a moment rather than the actual events. Like a warm drink on a cold night with a cozy blanket, you don’t remember every night like that, but a general feeling of home and security during the winter. That’s how my consciousness works, I guess.

As I drove home today, I tried to construct so said “year-end review.” I think I probably could have done it, but I settled on creating a top five soundtrack for the year.
Talking Heads “This Must Be The Place”

Beirut “Elephant Gun” and “Scenic World”

The National “Abel”

Andrew Bird “Plasticities”

Broken Social Scene “Stars and Sons”

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