I was going to go shopping yesterday but couldn’t face the rain. My mother would say, “What? Your made of sugar?” I have double plans for today and tomorrow, so I don’t know what I’ll do. Today I’m going to the New York Botanical Garden Train Show with Allison and Joe and then to my annual New Years party at Tina and Warren’s. That is exactly what I did last year on December 31. I love traditions when they come from myself, not from others. Tomorrow I’m going to my annual New Year’s Day party at Coco and Bruce’s and then to the Knick game with Alan.
Oh, hell, I hadn’t planned on it but how about a Year End Wrap Up? The biggest news was on the health front. I finally fixed problems that I’ve had for years. First I had my cataracts removed. That was a life changer. I’m actually in better shape than before I had the cataracts. I don’t need glasses except for reading now. I’ve been a four-eyes since I graduated college. I had one bad eye since I was a pre-teen. On the downside I now need glasses to read. I’m wearing a pair right now. They cost all of $1. Dollar tree halved their prices, they were $2 last time I bought them. I have them all around the house and in the bag I always take with me.
I had major ventral abdominal hernias for over ten years. This year I had them repaired surgically. You might have noticed that I no longer have a lump on to stomach. Turns out I had eight hernias. My entire gut is now held together by mesh. My surgeon is a comedian. He said, “your abdominal wall was what we technically call swiss cheese.” How may people can truthfully say that they love their surgeon. I was under the knife for 4.5 hours. There were no knives used. It was all done robotically. I wish I had the videos of what the internal cameras saw.
I also started treatment for my Crohn’s disease. I get infusions of Entyvio. I still have health issues to deal with, but this is the healthiest I’ve been in decades. That’s good as I intend on living until the sun turns into a red giant and engulfs the earth. Who wants to live forever inside a sun? That would be silly. There’s be no chocolate.
I’m now a radio personality. I host Gord’s Gold on Folk Music Notebook. I just had my first full-length show; my review of top albums of 2019. If you missed it you’re in luck. It’s being rebroadcast today at 12:30. All you need to do is go to the website or download the Folk Music Notebook App for your phone. You can also listen on our page on Facebook. I’m quite proud of myself even if I cringe when I hear my voice.
There are no major changes in my personal life. I didn’t go anyplace that I don’t go to every year. But that doesn’t mean those trips are unimportant. The Seder at Louis and Sylvia’s, the New Bedford Folk Festival, The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival,The Hudson West Folk Festival, NERFA, and Thanksgiving with the VanMercs are all essential to my emotional well-being. I’m With Her and Darlingside thoughtfully gave a show at the bandshell in Prospect Park the day before my birthday, which became my birthday party.
I am back to regularly going to sporting events with Alan. Let’s Go Mets! The Knicks are just sad, but they are still my team.
How many concerts did I go to? I have no idea. I stopped keeping track. The number isn’t important. I went to many. I saw old favorites and discovered new ones. I almost forgot about Broadway. I saw two of the greatest shows I’ve even seen, Hadestown twice, and Hamilton. For someone with no money I get to see a lot of shows. My therapist is jealous.
Then there are friends. Friendships ebb and flow but there are always people important to me. You know who you are, and you know how much you mean to me. There are many that I have not seen nearly enough. There are some that I wish I were closer too. But my therapist always reminds me that I have far more friends than most people, and I remind myself that they are great. I’m in awe of some of you. And that leads into something that should be listened to every year. My favorite rendition of THE New Year’s Eve song.
Tak a cup o’ kindness My Gentle Readers. See you in the new year.
Wise Madness 