My view of New Years Eve

Let me say the following. I have never liked New Years Eve. As in, ever. I don't know what it is about it that makes me feel so sad but it just does. Auld Lang Syne kills me. Did you know auld lang syne means times long past? Or that the song itself is a poem that originated in Scotland? There it is sung as a goodbye or farewell at gatherings, including funerals. That makes sense. It makes me cry. Perhaps the saying goodbye of one year is sad because it takes you further away from other things. Memories of childhood you try and hold on to. Or of loved ones that you have lost. It's a sad thought that in your memory they remain the same age while you get older and further away. For parents I think it's tough to realize that as time marches on, your children will never be this age, this way again. Better things may be on the horizon but the past has a rosy, old time color to it that makes me feel warm. No matter how many times I reexamine the past, it is always the same. I can count on certain memories never changing and that makes it a comfort to hang out there once in a while.


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne?

Should we forget those that have been in our lives but are no longer? What about times long past? I don't believe so, no. The English translation of the song shows how beautiful the song really is because most of us don't speak Scottish!


Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give me a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.



I think it means that when you look at the past, be kind to yourself. Be kind to what has happened. Don't judge to harshly. A lot has happened between now and those old time days but think about them with grace. That may not be what the song means, but to me it makes sense. Decisions made, events that happened, they are all easy to regret, wish away, and ponder. But what it all comes down to is people normally do the best they can at the moment. If you are upset with a choice someone made, realize that they probably did the best they could. If you are still ruminating about an insult from 10 years ago, chances are that person has changed since then and so have you. These pictures are of me and my daughters as toddlers. Wow has time flown by for all 3 of us.

Me as a toddler

Kayla as a Toddler

Emily as a toddler

I guess for now I will look at New Years Eve as a nod to the past. A chance to say goodbye to the person you were this year because chances are next year at this time you won't be the same person. If you are the same person you aren't growing as a person. I don't intend on being the same person year in and year out. I also don't want to be on my front porch in a rocking chair in 40 years and regret what life I have led. So goodbye 2011, you have been good to my family. May our blessings continue and may we be able to see those blessings for the good that they are. May we stay healthy and safe and be more prosperous than ever before. May we find comfort in one another and have the grace to accept whatever may come our way. Have a safe and wonderful New Years Eve and may 2012 bring you everything you have hoped for.

Love Always

Kira

Speak your mind-About Disney Channel

I just wrote an email to both the Head of the Disney Channel, and to the CEO of Disney. I had to express my disgust at the programming on Disney Channel these days. So here is the context of that email. Feel free to write your own and send it to :
Disney Contact Information

Write the Head of Disney Channel!
Rich Ross,
President and Director of The Disney Channel.
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Email: rich.ross@disney.com

Write Disney CEO, Robert Iger!
Robert A. Iger,
President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Email: robert.a.iger@disney.com

 I have a 5 year old and an 11 year old. Both are girls who are very smart, kind, and interested in a multitude of subjects from music, to space, to science, math, social studies, books, art etc. I am deeply disturbed by the shows you are currently airing on your channel for the above preschool age groups. You seem to take so much time developing shows for younger children that will help their minds grow and help them grow up to be good world citizens and care about others. I am so confused as to why all of a sudden when a child becomes to old for Disney Junior they are immediately ready for shows about teens. Where are the middle school shows, or the elementary shows for that matter? The only show that both my 5 and 10 year old can watch is Phineas and Ferb(why not more shows like this? ) My 5 year old is getting to old for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse but not old enough for shows like Good Luck Charlie, and Wizards of Waverly Place, Suite Life on Deck, Shake It Up, That's So Random etc. Furthermore, the characters in these shows are almost all the same. There are always a bunch of kids that act like they are completely ignorant, or their parents do(which is even worse in my opinion). Do you have children? Think about it. Would you like your children to talk about and treat you the way these characters do about their parents and teachers? I think probably not.The attitudes displayed in these shows are enough to make any parent sick. How can we expect children to respect adults that they come across if what they are being exposed to is the opposite? You above all people should know that what children are exposed to when they are young is what they will exhibit as they get older. ShouId they treat an employer the way teachers are treated in your shows? Would you appreciate that if they were your employee? I know so many parents who have blocked your channel because of your programming or who have limited viewing down to just Phineas and Ferb. Have you examined what kind of role models these characters are for children? Have you even paid attention? Where are the shows for preteens that have any intellectual value? Or shows about kids and nature? Or being world citizens? What about shows that teach kids about different places around the world? They need to know about their global community. It's no wonder kids don't care.  Kids are not stupid. They are not all the same. Please put some diversity into your programming so that my daughter, who is a straight A student, trumpet player, artist, crafter, poem writer, story creator, animal lover, and my 5 year old can enjoy and grow with Disney for many years to come. I appreciate you reading this and hope you will consider this.

 No I didn't send it in red ink. It is a little snippy, as I am very irritated about this whole thing. But I think people are to nice in these cases. I will also be printing this out and sending it via real mail as a friend of mine told me that because real mail is so uncommon, companies are more apt to read the real mail than the email. I hope that this prompts you to take action on something that is bothering you lately. Unless it is my blog. In that case, tough crap:)

Boredom Buster!

My girls and I wanted something fun to do a couple Sundays ago. So we went down to the craft store and bought an ornament making kit. My older daughter was especially interested in it which I thought was awesome because they are really actually vintage inspired ornaments. You use straight pins, sequins, and beads and push them into a foam ball. Even my 4 year old enjoyed it and was very careful. They didn't fill in the whole ball, do you know how long it takes to do that??? FOREVER! But they were cute and had lots of fun.