Another year has come to a close. Looking back, I wonder really what was accomplished. On the surface it seems like the Richard household ended it the same state we started it – healthy, married, employed, with a roof over our heads, bountiful food on the table, clean water pouring out of the faucet upon command, a loving family and good friends just a call away.

But there have been changes. An extra rabbit to feed, for sure. Over $40K less in debt and eight credit cards paid off that’s for sure – thank you Dave Ramsey! So how bad can it all be? How can one say that 2008 was anything but a success? And yet I look at myself in the mirror and see what Tracey has been saying for the past month, that this was the year I seem to have finally begun to look my age. Well, it had to happen sometime!

For many, I’m sure, this has not been a great year. People have lost jobs, or seen their investments and retirement funds take a major hit, or lost loved ones. For yours truly, the loss of an old and distant friend still hangs in the air.

But I refuse to be maudlin about the turn of another year. I feel great, more spiritually alive than this time last year (though not as devoted in my daily offices as I would like to be), and overall happier than I’ve been in at least a decade. I mean, at some point you just have to come to grips with who you are and what your life path is – it may not be all what you’d like it to be or think you ought to be doing, but it is what it is, and God’s plans often – if ever – coincide with one’s own. And I can live with that – finally.

Learning such lessons can be a tough process.

So let’s not close out 2008 with any sense of loss, or sadness, or longing. A new year is before us in all its wonderful and unique promise and uncertainty. It’s time to “ring out the old and ring in the new”, courtesy of the dear departed and still deeply missed George Harrison and his wonderful classic 1974 holiday tune. Do yourself a favor and crank it up!

Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the old
Ring in the new

Ring out the false
Ring in the true
Ring out the old
Ring in the new

Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong

Yesterday, today was tomorrow
And tomorrow, today will be yesterday

So ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the old
Ring in the new

Ring out the false
Ring in the true
Ring out the old
Ring in the new

Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong

“Yesterday today was tomorrow, and tomorrow, today will be yesterday – so ring out the old, ring in the new.” I mean, how can you write better lyrics than that?

Hasta la vista, 2008.