Another Year Down

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And the days dwindle down to a precious few, as the line goes in "September Song." The last acrid days of 2025 are oozing by slowly, and good riddance to a year filled with sorrow and tears. A year of terrorist attacks, many of them perpetrated against Jews by antisemites. So many people these days are Jew haters and they have no problem proclaiming it. Proud and loud antisemitic voices in our universities and in our streets. The younger ones were indoctrinated well by Marxist professors and teachers. But there are plenty of older ones too, motivated by Islamist doctrines of hate. And still others who simply hate, without any logical reason.

The end of one year brings the start of a new year. For me, born in January, I will soon be another year older. Am I wiser? I don't think so. I am most assuredly sadder. But am I wiser? Nope. The older I get the more I realize how little I know about myself, let alone anything else. Getting old, contrary to what many of us have been told, does not necessarily bring wisdom. I add the word necessarily allowing for the fact that there maybe some who do acquire wisdom, but I certainly am not in that group.

The new year is a time of new beginnings, new hopes. Like everything else in the future, we don't know what awaits us. At the start of 2025 I didn't know what to expect in the months ahead. I hoped for the best, of course, but my hopes didn't pan out. Now, as we come to 2026, I once again hope for the best, or maybe I should say, something better. I'll settle for just something better. It has to be better because I can't imagine it can be any worse than what I had this year.

People make resolutions for the new year, at least they used to. You don't hear too much about new year resolutions anymore. I wonder why not? Most of the resolutions were about improving one's self. I resolve not to smoke. I resolve to loss weight. I resolve to spend more time with my family. I resolve to exercise more.

My 2026 new year's resolution has already been made, months ago. It was made in April when I promised myself I would try to be more like the man my wife thought I was. I don't know if I've made much progress along those lines, but I keep trying. I'm trying to take good care of myself, eating right, getting enough sleep, keeping busy. I'm trying to stop swearing and I think I've made some progress. At least I don't cuss as frequently as I once did. I want to quit drinking, I'm still working on that.

I am trying to be strong, stoic, and tough. I want to be the guy who shrugs off pain and heartache and carries on no matter what. Soldiering on, as the saying goes. I want to be emotionally like John Wayne. So far the Duke and I are not even close, sorry Jane. I'm not that strong. I thought I would be, but it hasn't happened. My sorrow overwhelms my machismo.

Having written all this, I really should end my column on a somewhat upbeat note. The new year is coming and, in spite of what I've gone through I'd like to believe that it might bring a fresh, happier and hopeful future for me. I have a loving, supportive family, good friends, and so far, pretty good health. I have much to be thankful for. G od has been generous and kind to me. I have my memories, both good and bad. But I hope the good ones will overshadow the bad ones in time. I'll be okay.

I wish you all a healthy and happy 2026. May you make only good memories in the days and months ahead.

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