HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN

Tomorrow is New Year's Ever already? What the fuck happened? 

I know, I swear a lot. I use language that some consider vulgar. I find that odd, considering the world we live in, the things that are acceptable, and where we are as a species in general. I find plenty in this world vulgar. Commercialization. Deforestation. Poverty. The Great Economic Divide. The Purposeful Misleading of the Masses by Corporate Assholes for Various Nasty Reasons that Make No Sense. The bizarre use of capitalization by me in the previous sentence. I just can't get all that worked up over words like fuck and shit, when words like anti-vaxxer are commonplace.

So fuck it.

Anyhow. Was talking this early morning about the song Happy New Year, Prince Can't Die Again by Mac McCaughan, which came out shortly after the election of the Orange Goon back in 2016. Ryan was of the opinion that the song seems quaint now, after the past few years. And I suppose in a way, he's right. As terrible as we thought the world was after the election of a sexist, racist, greedy, creepy man as POTUS, the world has gotten even more terrible, crazy, and sad. 

Then again, I think the song is more about saying "well, yes, things suck, but we must move forward", and while sorrow and uncertainty will surely await us, so will friendship and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds. 

So Happy New Year's, January 6 can't happen again. And neither can the Donner Party. Or the Great Depression. Or World War II. Or The Phantom Menace. Lots of shitty things have passed on. 

What strange new worlds await us? What triumphs and tragedies? What challenges will I give myself, cause for myself, or awake in other people? 

This past year, I've worked on several scripts, went to the Austin Film Festival, directed many shows at many places, traveled, have a huge internal family fight, got some exciting happy family news, lost the best dog in the history of dogs, and more. Like most years, when I step back and look at them, it had a lot of life crammed into it, top to bottom. 

In looking at the past year, I find yet again that when I don't give up, stay true to my vision, and strive to maintain some sense of dignity, things work out for the best. Pretty much all regrets are for things I didn't do out of fear or timidity. Fortune favors the bold and all that.

Then again, the rioters and terrorists who stormed the capitol on January 6 were also bold. Assholes, morons, and shitty. But still, bold. 

So, be bold, but don't be shitty. Good mantra.

Also, love it all. This world, full of maniacs and misfortune, is still magical and full of wonder. The stars come out every night. Music is composed. Children laugh. Birds fly, to quote a song from my high school days. Love, actually, is everywhere.  

Here's a song from that last line, and the movie it references. Also, if we get to perform, and who knows based on Omicron and all, please come see Wizard of Oz at PACE in January and February. It's not a kiddie show or a recreation of the movie. It's a fucking great story, told well.

Here's the song. It's God Only Knows by the Beach Boys

NEXT YEAR, THIS YEAR, LOVE IS WHAT WE NEED

And on we go. It's that weird limbo time between Christmas and New Year's, when we all think about the year that has been and speculate on the year that will be. It's never quite the same, and I note that there are no really great films about this time. Plenty of holiday films, not a lot of late December thinking about the specific year that just passed and trying to prognosticate movies. Maybe there are, and I just can't think of them due to the fog that has clouded our collective mind since the virus kicked into high gear and changed the world forever. And ever. 

So here I go, mulling over 2020 and pondering 2021.

In obvious ways, 2020 sucked balls.

I think we all know that, so I won't dwell too much on how awful the pandemic has been, how shocking the murder of George Floyd was, how worrying the economy has been, and how insane our would be dictator has proven himself to be in the events before and after the election.

That's pretty clear. 

There were some positives in the year. Some in spite of events, some because of them. So here are a few things that have made this year bearable, and my life better.

My wife and I have started taking an hour walk every day. Very awesome. We get up early, roam the neighborhood, and usually leave our phones at home. It seems like such a simple act, taking a walk with no distractions. But it is something I haven't done on a consistent basis since I bought my first cell phone long ago in another world. I find the walks make me feel present. Alive. And happy. We greet strangers, notice gardens and decorations and birds. It makes getting up early a joy. I recommend it. 

I've written in this blog more than any other year. For a long stretch of time, I wrote every day. And it's been fantastic. Not the content. Some of what I've written has been nothing much more than stream of consciousness blather. But even blather has merit, has a function. I've always thought that unexpressed thoughts fester in your mind, turn toxic, go rogue. By letting them out, I feel healthier. Happier. more connected to myself and the world. I've also gotten reconnected to old friends through this blog, which has been so nice. And I've exercised my writing muscles. I think you have to write often if you want to write well. 

I wrote a complete screenplay, based on my childhood, which I a quite proud of. It's working title is The Belvedere Jungle, and I think it has legs, as they say. Legs, arms- a whole body. And soul. So hurrah. I also wrote a one act, and have been working on a book for a musical. The Shut Down opened up my writing, both of stories and blogs, and for that, I am grateful. 

I've come to appreciate time spent in person with friends and family. Not that I didn't before. But it's different. After not being able to sit together whenever we want, the rare times we do get to be in the same room with people has a magic to it, an almost sacred feel. And I long for hugs. But even without the hugs, seeing people in person is something I hope I never take for granted again. 

I've taken up cooking. Mostly on the Instant Pot. I bought Lisa one last year, and it has sat on the shelf for the most part. So I decided to start cooking meals for us with it, so that the gift would still give her something. Chili, Mac-and-Cheese with smoke bacon, a Dixie Roast have been some of the things I've made, and for the most part, they've rocked. From the Instant Pot, I've expanded my repetoire to the actual oven and stove. Not everything has turned out well, but I've enjoyed the journey. 

I've called old friends I haven't called in a while. And that has fed my soul. Old friends are the best, because they get you. They speak the same language, share some of your history. Remind you of who you are. 

And I've listened to a lot of music. Of all types. Modern, classical, jazz. I don't really care what genre it is, if something rocks my world, that's that. 

There's been many other good things in this past year of hard times, miracles large and small, unexpected joys and magical moments, but it's almost time to take our walk.

As for next year, I have so many hopes and dreams. I hope we all get vaccinated. I hope we take better care of ourselves and the world we are so lucky to live in. I hope for so much for all of us. 

I love you all.

Here's a song. It's Next Year by Foo Fighters. Enjoy.