It’s New Year’s Eve and there’s a full moon – actually it’s the second full moon this lunar month – which is very rare and is referred to as a “blue moon” (hence ‘once in a blue moon’).  Sadly we can’t see it due to cloud cover.  Last night was pretty darn bright, though, and I am glad we got to at least see the “close to full” blue moon.

It’s about 10 pm and we’re all feeling pretty under the weather.  I spent much of the day on the couch blowing  through tissue after tissue and wishing I could breathe through my nose.  I don’t know that any of us will last to midnight – I think most years we barely get there and then head right for bed. So much for the two bottles of Prosecco I had saved for tonight.

Still the temptation is there to be vigilant and make sure that we ring in the new year “just right” so that all of the ills of the past year are washed away properly and we can start fresh, resolutions or no.  Today has forced me to re-think that a bit.  Generally I push myself hard so that the house is sparkly clean come 12:01.  You know that superstition that how you start the year is how you’ll spend the year?  Today my house is a mess.  And today I was too sick to do squat about it.  And you know what?  I got to thinking that I am not starting the new year with a messy house; rather I am starting the new year actually listening to my own needs for once and not worrying about the grime around me.  I know it’s still going to be there for me to clean tomorrow, and let’s face it – I am going to spend all of 2010 trying to keep up with it and mostly failing no matter what I do today.

So –  filthy house around me – I spent today resting in comfy clothes, cuddling Oona when she’d allow it, watching Spongebob with all my girls, looking through some of my favorite books, thinking about some knitting and sewing  patterns I’d like to try, making a list of the seeds I’ll need to order for early spring,  talking to the animals, marveling with Emily at the 3 eggs she collected today and eating some fresh bread and warm soup. My husband and I sat after dinner in the quiet glow while the kids played in the next room and had a real, honest conversation for the first time in…..well, a blue moon, and made some positive plans for the new year.

If that’s how the rest of the year is going to go, then I say – welcome 2010, you’re gonna be great!!!