new year's day

I don’t go to a downtown party.  I don’t see Shari who has suggested getting together.  I’m not even tempted to go into a store.  I don’t want to leave my apartment.  I want only to catch-up.  Read three days of papers that have accumulated.  Organize mail.  Clean apartment.  Post some items I want to sell on Craig’s list.  Return some calls.  Sort through photos.  Hang with Alexander.

Ellen stops by to return something she borrowed. We end up talking for a while.

I don’t hang with Alexander because he sleeps until three, recovering from his activities of the night before.

My nephew Michael comes by to pick something up.  He notices my streak by saying, “Oh, you changed your hair.”  He is too polite to say he doesn’t like it, but it is clear he doesn’t.  Now I’m having second thoughts.  He has excellent taste.

I take my first picture of the new year, of two of my favorite people:

I speak to friends.  I catch up on paperwork.  I read an impressive draft of a screenplay Alexander has written.  I make a recipe of chicken, goat cheese and fig jam.  I vow to lose a few pounds after seeing I’ve gained too much over the holidays. 

It’s a low-key start to the new year.  Exactly what I wanted.