Welcome New Year 2010

Here we are. This is the last porch swing column for 2009. Time to put the old year to bed and wake up a brand new one. It's always a time of reflection and a time of renewal. I am having a hard time realizing that it has been 10 years since the beginning of the new millennium. Remember that? For one thing when I was young, it had never occurred to me that I would be a witness to "a new millennium". After all they don't come around all that often and I had no idea about what it was. Of course as I got older I began to see the possibility.

Then there was the hullabaloo about all the computers going bonkers and bringing the world to a standstill. Just a little bit over the top. Thank goodness I won't be around to see the next one. This year won't be so traumatic. I have learned to accept the turning over of the decades with grace. I have had a lot of experience. I have seen lots of decades. Oh Gosh! That makes me feel old. Maybe because I am?

As it is I see each new year as a time to digest all that has happened in the past year and time to lay out plans for the coming. I never make New Year resolutions anymore, though. I can't seem to remember what they are long enough to know if I accomplish them or not. And I suspect that I don't. So I just spend that time being thankful for all the experiences of the waning year.

Any way this past year has been full of surprises and changes, hasn't it? Many people lost fortunes early in the year and most have seen some of it return. Wall Street has rebounded, the banks are a little more solid, industry is slowly recovering and even our local unemployment has decreased a little bit. We still have an opportunity to help our neighbors though. We have some things to do yet. We have another year to work with.

We have been living history this past year (well we always are) and we will continue to watch it unfold before us in the coming year. It's a little scary and a little exciting and it will continue to be so, I am sure.

But let's talk a little about what has been going on here.

Let's see. Christmas! Did everyone have a glorious Christmas? I know Mae Ruth Hardin was glad to be home for Christmas. She had spent a few days in the hospital the week before. Glad you are home.

I had an email from Rena Snow. She tells me she celebrated Christmas for an entire week. On December 19 Paige and Richard Mobley of Little Rock and Celia, Joy and Frank Henary of Memphis came to visit. They all went to the home of Darrell and Ellen Dalton at Piggott for dinner Saturday night. The Dalton children and grandchildren were there as well so that made a party of 20. The evening was filled with visiting, picture taking and gift exchanges. They were also entertained by the little ones playing Christmas carols on the piano.

On Monday, Rena went home with Paige and Richard to their home in Little Rock where she had a wonderful time visiting with Richard's daughter, Ashley Mobley Fryar, her husband Dakota, son Gabryl and other Mobley relatives while they shared a turkey feast.

They spent Christmas day at the Mobley family party in the home of Joe Mobley. They shared a delicious lunch and then enjoyed visiting and more picture taking. The day concluded with a gift exchange by playing "Dirty Santa". Paige brought her mother home, happy and full on December 26.

Glenna Bookout was visited by her daughter on Christmas Day. Kindra Lynn Wiederman and her son Jordan were there to spend some special time with Glenna. She really enjoyed having them. Even though she is able to drive now, she is still pretty careful about where she puts her feet and the weather has encouraged her to keep her feet close to home lately, so she really enjoys the company.

Lane Wozniak is under no such constraints. She spent Christmas with her son Josh in Reno, Nevada. She called me at one point to say they were just heading over Downer's Pass and there was snow everywhere. She did that because she knows I like the snow and she was sort of rubbing my nose in it. However she loves the sunshine and I was able to tell her we were having a lovely sunny day here. I will tell you more about her trip next week. I am sure her plane trip home will be interesting.

Jessie Malin had the usual Malin clan for Christmas Eve. Steve, Mika and Margo Malin came from St. Louis. Steve spent a whole week. Mika and Margo spent time with their mother Teresa while they were here. Seth and Misty Cohn were there with Hailey and Dawson Henderson. David Cohn was there too.

Keit and Heidi Cohn and daughters Mason and Hayden and son, Cooper and Meagan Louder fought their way through the flood waters to come from Jonesboro. And of course

Cathy and Rob Louder rounded out the affair.

I am not sure but you may have seen Billy Stone sneaking around town sometime this past week. I hear he was going to drop in on his sisters Mary Small and Hope Ermert. Did you see him?

I also know there were some other military men here on Christmas leave. I am waiting for more information on them. Ahem! Information please!

I believe this is all I have for today. I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. Let's all look back over this past year, love it, embrace it and take our new knowledge into the new year.

I know we have lost much. I have lost several good friends, but my heart swells to know they are all in God's hands. I also know we have gained much and that some of our gain is still unknown to us. 2010 promises to be another marked year. It is my fervent wish that we can learn to work together to bring forth a new and better platform to accommodate us all. I mean that politically, spiritually and all other ways.

I am looking for a shift in cosmic consciousness. How about you?

Let me know what's happening with you. Give me a call or email me to let me know what is happening. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net. I want to know and share your news. Thank you so much for all your emails and phone calls. I love hearing from you.

Keep our military in your prayers. We need them and they need us.