The Year of the No Draggin’ Your Feet

The Year of the Dragon roared into our house like a hot mess this year — spewing germs, unsettling tummies, isolating family members and threatening our absolute joy.

But, like our beloved Packers, we rallied. Oh, sure, our New Year’s Day family photo makes us all look like we’re in a federal witness protection program, and we never managed to get the whole family into a single zip code, but we did have lots of really special times. And, even more importantly, everyone seems to have emerged from the chaos in great health.

So, here’s to that.

And, here’s to a new year with an appealing theme. You may hear it called the Year of the Dragon. I’m calling it the Year of the No Draggin’ Your Feet.

Dump that bucket list out and start plucking your challenges because 2024 is here and we’re never going to get another one like it.

For me, that means I’m going to take a young man to see the ocean for the first time because I’ve been wanting to that for almost six years and we need to get out there. Boom! We’re going.

I’m going to see my daughter Katherine perform standup because she’s been doing that for a good while now and I feel like I’m cheating myself out of the pleasure of seeing my funny, brave daughter do her thing live. Look out LA. I’m coming for you.

I’m going to clean, cull and organize my basement. Yawnsville but it has to get done.

I’m going to learn to play the ukelele.

I’m going to write a book. I already started doing interviews for this project and I’m really excited about it. Stay tuned.

I’m going to reconnect with my friends who have been waiting patiently for me to find some free time. “Finding free time” is for frivolous projects like ukeleles. My friends deserve a little more of my prime time and I intend to give it to them this year.

I’m going to join my nephew Traveian for crab legs at his favorite restaurant in the Third Ward because he has duke status there and we’ve been talking about me joining him for years.

I’m going to not take my husband for granted because we aren’t getting any younger and, just because he’s always there when I need him to be, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t thank him for that reliability.

I’m going to continue to educate myself on how to be the best foster parent I can be.

I’m going to laugh every day. (This one’s a reflex but it’s good goal too).

I’m going to continue to explore my faith in meaningful ways.

I’m going to get my Christmas thank you notes in the mail before Groundhog Day.

I’d better get started on that one.

Happy Year of the No Draggin’ Your Feet!

Go get it!