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The big three emotional holidays for us widowed folks are gone now: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s have passed and now we can look forward to Easter. Each of these days has memories for some of us; some more than others for different people. For me, it’s the little daily activities with my wife that I miss most, not the big holidays.
The world did not end on December 21, as some people believed the ancient Mayans predicted. I wasn’t too worried about that. I mean they didn’t even have cell phones. We had plenty of snow for Christmas so Santa could make his rounds. That’s always important to those of us who still believe. The huge lighted ball made its descent at midnight New Year’s Eve in Times Square without Dick Clark. The wranglers in Washington, D.C. kept us from tumbling over the Fiscal Cliff at the last minute in dramatic style. I was fortunate to be able to have New Year’s breakfast with friends. So now we are ready to begin 2013 in good shape.
Oh, I know that there will immediately be people who will say, “2013 will be a bad luck year,” and all that, but if they aren’t Mayans or Incans, no one will pay much attention to them. Look back at 1913; those people survived. William Taft was president and war clouds were forming over Europe. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. I guess I’m not too worried. Anyway, I haven’t seen that hand basket my grandparents predicted we were going to hell in 70 years ago yet, so I think we’re OK.
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions yet? Me neither. Over the last few years I have modified my lifestyle to suit me more; nothing formal, I just do things different. I don’t run to answer the phone like I used to. I’ve got an answering machine and caller I.D. so I’ll get back to you. I’m trying not to hurry so much whether I’m walking, driving, or eating. This isn’t really too hard for me. One of my elementary teachers once said, “Al, you’re the slowest kid in the county.” Today I would take that as a compliment. I try not to get upset at little things. I don’t treat clerks from the insurance agencies on the phone to my sarcastic wit any longer, or at least I try not to! In other words, I’m trying to be friendlier. All of this has come about since I turned 80; it’s sort of New Decade resolutions rather than New Year’s resolutions. Oh my gosh; Patti Page died. I had a terrible crush on her in my late teens and early 20s. She was 85. I guess I really never had a chance, but a guy can dream can’t he?
I started writing this column as sort of therapy for myself and anyone else who wants to come along for the ride. It has helped me and I hope that it has helped others, too. Recently there has been some discussion about my true identity. I’m not going to lie about who I am; I’m not a good liar. So if you ask me, I’ll tell you. But I’d still like to have you think of me as Al Owne when you read this column. He’s still trying to cope with being alone and you’re helping him get through it.
Say “Happy New Year” to everyone you meet this week and smile when you do. Alnada2704@gmail.com, or care of Winona Post, P.O. Box 27, Winona, Minn., 55987.
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