Digging Out and Looking Forward

Yesterday's silhoutted sunset belies the ferocity of Sunday's storm

That nor’easter, the ferocity of which just about caught everyone by surprise is gone, but it created havoc all over New Jersey as it roared through our area.   I can’t speak for you, but I am bushed!  I need a good snow blower!

The Bergeron clan was to have gathered at our Bridgewater home the Sunday after Christmas for our traditional holiday get-together celebration.

However, in the notable and often-repeated lament of Robert, the unappreciated brother in the TV comedy series, Everybody Loves Raymond, “It was not meant to be!”  The blizzard kept our travelling family guests from incurring what would have been an unacceptable risk.

Not to worry though.  Flexibility is the name of the game.  In that spirit, we have all reset the timing for New Year’s Day:  The same cast of characters will gather instead at Denise and Jim’s place, where both had previously planned an open house to fête the arrival of the New Year.  Friends, in-laws, cousins, aunts and uncles will congregate at the invitation of our gracious hosts.  Until then, the Christmas gifts remain unwrapped.

Backyard Adirondack chairs await the return of warm summer days.

I hope that all y’all (that’s Texas-speak for ‘everybody’) are not experiencing a case of the post-holiday blues and that you are looking forward to a fulfilling 2011.  

Nonetheless, there is a need to acknowledge that it’s really tough out there for a very large segment of our brothers and sisters.

If you are so inclined, do whatever you can to help by extending yourselves in any way that you feel is appropriate, however modest your effort might be.  

It’s amazing how just a little outreach – a kind word, an unexpected deed here or there – can lift the spirits of the most disheartened among us.

Thanks for reading.  Remain hopeful for the New Year and remember, stay engaged.