A thousand different thoughts as 2010 comes to close - of what I have gained this year and what I have lost. It has been a year of great joy and deep sorrow, of shock and awe, of grave disappointments. More than once I have beamed with utter happiness and more than once I have railed against the powers that be for the sheer unfairness of it all.

There has been nothing about this year that I could have expected.

I wish I had myself organized enough to make one of those grand end of year posts but this go-round it is not going to happen. Suffice to say I do have some resolutions (I am corny enough to believe in them still) and they are somewhat of the writerly sort while others concern family photos and fashion (of all things!) and yes, those last loathsome five pounds. Although that one mostly involves walking away from the potato chip bag more often then diving in and really, we should all embrace that concept at least on occasion.

My gift to you is the very pretty picture of a Bergdorf Goodman window (and if you have the dollars the very pretty book about them) and this wonderful bit of poetry from John Mellencamp. Happy year to you all - dream big, live well and be filled with hope for better days ahead.