Well, did you watch the ball drop in Times Square last night and the big celebration in New
York City?

I was awake until 11:45, turned the TV channel to watch it all go down; I had been watching the Big Bang Theory marathon all evening, and then I fell asleep!!

I awoke again about 12:30, said “eh, Happy New Year” and went back to sleep.  Very exciting evening!!!

I got a great surprise this afternoon.  As I was leaving the office for the holiday weekend, my boss handed me an envelope.  I did not open it until I got to my car; expecting $50 or maybe even $100.  As I opened the envelope, I almost fell over with surprise!!

He had given me a $500 bonus for Christmas!!  I was not even expecting a bonus, since I have only worked for him for a year.  But man, this was a great Christmas gift.  I have been needing a new television set in my living room for about 1 1/2 years now, mine went out, and I could not afford to fix it or buy a new one.  So, this is buying me a new television set!!!  They have some great sales going on right now.  Thank you Mr. Elliott for the wonderful gift.

In this area, summer ends on Labor Day. So a lot of people go all out and have huge weekend parties or last ditch getaway weekends to the ocean beaches, the Bay, the rivers or even lakes. It’s all about getting to a large body of water and swimming, boating, and fishing.

Friends of mine have a little cabin on the river about 150 miles south of here. They were nice enough to invite me and a couple of our friends to come down on the Labor Day holiday weekend and camp out. I’m thinking about it!

Just recently a friend of mine decided that he wanted to do a book exchange program with me. Seems that I have a lot of books he would like to read and he has a lot of books that he thinks I should read. So he started bringing the books that he’s read that belong to him, and then he picks one of my books that he wants to read. So far it has worked out pretty well; he’s returned every book he borrowed from me, and I’ve returned every book that I’ve borrowed from him. So far the books he has recommended have been interesting to read.

Happy 235th birthday, U.S.A.!!!!  I am proud to be an American.  What with a niece and a nephew both in the Army and both war veterans, it is difficult not to puff out my chest when the flag goes by in the annual parade.

Although the country is going through some difficult times right now, what with two wars and the economy, most people in this country are still proud to call it home.  And, I believe, our country will survive and prosper in generations to come.  We have always done it in the past, and after all, history does tend to repeat itself.

Think about what you did to celebrate this year.  Did you go to a parade? Did you go watch some fireworks? Or maybe you attended a cookout with family and friends.  I did all of the above.  I stood proudly with my hand over my heart as the American Legion post marched by with 13 flags to symbolize the original 13 colonies.  I do live in an area where a lot of the Civil War was fought and where many many soldiers died to give us the country we have today, and I am proud of it.

Think about all the lives that have been lost and wars that have been fought the next time the flag passes by you in a parade or you notice it flying over the Post Office, and be proud to be an American.