Putting a Bow on 2019

Today I put the bow on another year of the Hometown View as this is my final segment of 2019.

Starting tomorrow it’s all about the 36th Annual WOBM Christmas Classic which begins its 7-day, 52-game run at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River.  It’s an event that as you likely know means quite a bit to me personally. A true labor of love.

So we play this weekend, take Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off and then go from December 26^th through the 30^th.  I will then take some time off, something I have not done in quite a while and something I badly need.

It is truly hard to believe that it’s been 12 months since I last shared end of year thoughts with you and that period has been filled with good times and bad, joy and sorrow and laughter and tears.  I have learned as you get older that days, weeks, months and years fly by at an alarming rate and while you can’t stop Father Time each year you get to add another number to your age has in the very end been a pretty good one.

2019 allowed us to bring new friends and even family members into our lives (my grandson Carter is a true blessing) but like every year had us saying goodbye to others.  Words my father shared often have indeed become very prophetic: the worst part about getting older is you know more people who have died.  Sadly he was right about that and this year was just another example.

I’m not much into New Year’s resolutions because for the most part you’re just setting yourself up for failure.  I’ll set the bar very low and say that if I’m sharing my thoughts and views with you a year from now than 2020 was a pretty good year.

For now I will simply wish you peace and joy throughout the holiday season, a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah (which starts Sunday) and all the best life can offer in the New Year.

I am well aware that this is not a good time of year for everyone as it’s more a reminder of what they don’t have.  Let’s keep that in mind and go out of our way to try and make a difference in the lives of others. After all it is better to give than receive.