There are a few hours yet to go until the stroke of midnight, although my home family welcomed in the New Year some four hours ago. Not that a subway workers’ strike helped in the slightest. Always, there are those who take advantage of others for their own gain; they seek to redress wrongs by hurting the innocent.
Of course, neither side has learned that communication needs to take place before issues can be resolved. Hearing someone out does not mean you are listening to them, listening being the essence of communication.
I find myself working hard tonight, to meet two writing deadlines, instead of celebrating. One deadline is due to a client wrangling with sources, and I find that to be somewhat inconsiderate of them. However, a glance at TV news this evening made it obvious the accidents have begun early, as they usually do, made worse by heavy rains. I am content to be in front of my computer, rather than driving “out there.”
Even if my car were equipped with sonar and radar to detect near collisions at the earliest possible moment of avoidance, I would not enjoy being out in the night. The drunks and criminals have ruined that for everyone else. However, we can fight back. One way is by supporting MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Another way to take back our neighborhoods is by participating in Neighborhood Watch, when our cities have that program, or something similar.
So, yes, I would rather be curled up with a mug of hot chocolate, with a cat on my lap, and reading a favorite mystery author. Since a writer always has work to do, I will instead stay at my PC, knowing the cats will roust me out of my chair, when it’s their turn for attention. Then, when the illegal fireworks start around us, the cats will become extremely agitated. They hate that sound, and should not have to put up with it. I can hope that the rain will snuff out most plans.
At the stroke of midnight, our neighbors will be out in their front yard, clanging pots and pans. A far safer and saner welcome for the babe called 2006 than the simple-minded, criminal act of shooting guns into the air.
Happy New Year to All!