New Year Old Problem

     It's  the New Year, Yay! Out with the old, in with the new and all that crap! I am, as of this writing, the same bummed out grump I was last year this time. The holidays being over always get to me. I should take a page from the Retail industry and look for the next holiday. The trouble is, I can't find one, or not a big one. There are plenty of smaller things coming up for me to focus on but none of them are much fun. Considering the fact that after 2018, we have no where to go but up, I should be able to scrape up some hopeful enthusiasm for the New Year, right?
   I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that we, as a family, are feeling a little beat up from last year. It could be that the last few months of the year flew by in such a blur that I feel like I didn't get a chance to really enjoy them. Being surrounded by reminders like large trees and house lights takes up a lot of space in our small house and when they're gone, the place can really feel empty. Add Winter, not much else holiday wise, tax filing and unemployment and you've got a basic recipe for depression.
   The question becomes what to do about it? The answer, regrettably didn't change from last year. When I can't find a holiday, I'll make one instead. (Thank you, Dr. Suess!) Enter, oddly enough, football season. Those that know me know I am no football fan. I am, however, a fan of getting our group of usual suspects together for a party. It also forces me to keep our house clean (reasonably). Wine notwithstanding, the big thing I enjoy about our gatherings is the opportunity to play games. It's the only time I get to use the adult card games that otherwise sit in our basement. We, as a group, are far from serious and there hasn't been a game yet in which at least one of  us laughed so hard we couldn't breathe.
    It may or may not help to remember that since Christmas managed to sneak up on me, I'm sure summer will, too. I seem to have a problem with trying to plan ahead versus living in the present moment. Right now, however, I'm having a problem scraping up any enthusiasm for either. It looks like I'm going to have to fake it till I make it. It would just be nice if that weren't the story of my life! Happy Winter, everyone!