I resist the concept of an arbitrary date to start a new year.. and what’s a “year”, anyway? Why the incessant need to mark time? I haven’t worn a watch in years. Which makes me perpetually, annoyingly late. But that’s another matter.

I guess it’s never a bad time to reflect, take stock, resolve, contemplate — all that jazz. I won’t bore you here with all that I’ve thought about. Except for the fact that I’m proud that I’ve taken alot of positive steps this past “year”.. and I’m still waiting for the jet-packs they’ve all promised us this millennium.

After a lovely Christmas in Ventura, I went to Boston. Here I am in snow [picture missing]. The smile is forced. It was cold and hard to walk around. I am an unapologetic wimp. When my guard was down I felt a small, magical thrill beholding the lovely white vistas. The ice skaters in the Boston Gardens in the evening, with the lights twinkling through the stately bare trees.. I was good for about 30 seconds before I cranked up the heat in my sister’s car and demanded to go to Filene’s Basement.

Boston was all about baby. My niece Sarah B is expecting a boy in February and my sis Lisa (Sarah’s mom) put on a shower to end all showers. Lisa does these things right: the fire-truck pinata was filled with high-end beauty products. But please, no more blue champagne!

I got to check out ImprovBoston. They rocked! I suggest we steal all of them and bring them to SF. I also saw my frail-but-cheerful dad, and my other sis Annie and her brood. We took pictures of Annie and her friend, half-dressed, doing the twist on a snow-covered mausoleum in the Mount Auburn cemetery. Long story.

I made it back to Ventura in time to get humiliated at Ventura TheatreSports‘ New Years Eve improv show. I’ll blame it on the jet lag.. After the dead wood (me) was cut from the first round of the elimination competition, the show was grand.

So now I’m back and ready to see my friends and enjoy the perpetually tepid weather. Call me, and we’ll have a cup of cheer.

With love from Becky

• Backstory: this entry gives me a little ache, as I saw my mom for the last time on January 1, 2003. She died, suddenly, on January 18.