Merry Christmas

Happy Winter Solstice Season! The celebrations around the time that the sun’s path in the sky starts getting higher again, and the days longer, seems to stretch back into prehistory. It’s no accident that we observe many of our most cherished religious holidays and celebrate a new year around this time. It’s kind of a corrective. Have a season of good will and fellowship in the darkest time of winter. At least in the northern latitudes.

In terms of posting this year, the volume went up a bit, to 45 posts. Although total comments declined to 1300. Much of that, I think, was due to a lot of posts on science fiction novels, which don’t often garner much discussion. Usually you get fiction posts here when life is busy and I don’t have much time for deep thoughts. But this year it was with a purpose, to put myself in the mindset for doing my own fiction writing. It had some success, but only some because it still was a pretty busy year.

Although work is gradually becoming less frantic than it’s been in recent years. The big project is mostly done, although there are always new projects in the pipeline. I periodically think about retirement, but the world remains a mad place, and reducing my options still doesn’t feel like the right move, at least while work remains tolerable, which of course could change at any time.

All of which makes my online life a much needed distraction. One reason you never see work posts here, and rarely political ones, is to preserve that distraction. For you, my online friends, and all the interesting philosophical conversations we have, I remain grateful. Thank you!

Whatever the season means for you, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and having a merry season.

Happy Holidays!