You have not heard from me since 25 November. I have missed writing my travel posts here, not to mention missing the adventures to share. Have you wondered why? My hips prevented many of my desired travels in 2018, as well as in 2017. To fix the situation, I had my first hip replacement on 4 December. I was bone on bone, and have the left hip to go. Four hours after surgery I was up walking, and was home thirty hours after surgery. I’ve been taking care of myself, physical therapist has been visiting, and I have been exercising to build up strength. I just want to wake up and take off, but it is a process, and this week I have really been moving about. Enough so to go out last evening and take some images of “my neighborhood” – the Common outside my windows – albeit sadly without snow.

Next to the Congregational Church across from me these carolers have not moved a muscle in weeks (their arthritis must really be bad).

I have kept busy in the house, and not even gotten to the piles of projects I set up before surgery. The January issue of the CLARION was completed, and in starting a new hobby (miniature buildings) I bought a few “new” “old” books. The last chapter of one book on savings banks had the following chapter. I shared it in the CLARION, and am sharing with you below – it is worth reading and contemplating while you are RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR.

86,400 SECONDS

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during that day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows you no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow.” You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of One Year, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of One Month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of One Week, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of One Hour, ask two lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of One Minute, ask a person who just missed the train. To realize the value of One Second. ask someone who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of One Millisecond, ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with. And remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.

Author Unknown

Here are two more views at the north end of the Common.

I have spent my time “working” between my computers in the kitchen, and a laptop and piles of reading material in my front informal parlor. I have some of my trees set up around the house, and below is what I see while sitting in the front room. The model of the Red Lion Inn I got last month at the Mistletoe Mart at the Congo Church. Never saw this Christmas decorated cutout before – no hesitation in buying.

Yesterday I sat here with my folders of yearly travel accomplishments and ideas. I am looking forward to getting back out to explore by car, rail, and water. I have also reread many of my travel posts here – remember I write for myself, but love to share. Hopefully I will have a great deal to share with you in 2019.

HAPPY NEW YEAR
as always, yours, RAY