I hope you will bear with me because about this time of year I sometimes wax a bit maudlin. I think it is a function of the changes of the seasons. As the leaves sprinkle down upon the earth, the frost puts its silver/white coating on the fields and the clouds begin to remind me that snow is soon to come, I am driven indoors. Normally I do an awful lot of my real thinking while walking in the woods or when paddling down a river. However, it is upon the advent of winter that I bring my thoughts into the house.

It is a time for reflection. In older times it was a time to enjoy the end of a hard year of planting, cultivating, harvesting and gathering of food and supplies to last until spring. Time to consider that despite a number of setbacks, somehow there would be enough to get by or maybe even enough to share with neighbors whose fortune had not been as good and whose larders were not as full. But whether or not the year had been plentiful, it was a time to take stock of things.

And so it is with me. I look back upon the year with all it has brought and I am thankful.

In this past year I have had many wonderful opportunities to go out into the wilds where I was given glimpses of beauties which defy description. I took an extensive hike (about 125 miles) in late spring during which I explored the limits of my stamina and determination. It was an enlightening experience on a whole bunch of levels.

A couple of times this year I stretched my budget a bit and made myself afford some journeys to visit and play music with some wonderful people (Annap's first gathering and the Getaway). I even drove up to the Washington D.C. area (nearly three hours away) to an open sing with the FSGW. Each of these trips brought its own rewards of fellowship and wonderful music.

Through the Mudcat and the related trips mentioned above, I have been especially blessed with the gift of some new friendships. I have met some terrific people and have found friends who are scattered in parts of the U.S. and in countries I may never get to visit. But I treasure those friendships no less than those of people I see often.

I have two terrific daughters, Lacy and Kelly, who, in a few days will be 16 and 21 respectively. They are each such beautiful, intelligent and interesting individuals! I am so very proud of both of them. Kelly, BTW, who is a Mudcat, got married last week to a fine young Brit named Alex.

I am entering my seventh year of my relationship with a wonderful woman named Kathy and her son, Mario. I won't go into a whole long thing about that. But I will tell you that although (or maybe even because) we have chosen to not live together, we have a great relationship! I once described it to a friend who has been through three divorces. When I had finished he said, "Hell, Allan! That is all I ever wanted from a marriage!"

Mario is turning out to be a handsome, bright and inventive eleven-year-old. He and I get to hang out together from time to time. I am proud to be counted as someone he loves and can talk with.

My life hasn't been all roses, though.

My father died in January and my mother's ability to live alone is rapidly diminishing. She does pretty well for an 82 year-old, but this will probably be her last year on the farm. The good news is that because of all that has happened and is happening, I have needed to spend more time with her. This has made our relationship even more special than ever.

I have had some major financial problems. I have been down to eating lots of peanut butter sandwiches and bowls of beans at times. But all of that is starting to turn around. I am doing far better now (almost comfortable) and by very early next year things should be going better than I have ever seen.

I am blessed with a job for which I am suited well enough to be able to make it look easy. It is through this job that I have any computer access at all to such wonders as the Mudcat. Earlier this year there was a real threat of having my work taken over by another entity and things got really scary around here for a while. But that scare is over (for now) and I just got a nice evaluation from my boss. It was good to discover that my efforts are appreciated. It means a nice raise for me.

All of these events (even the ones which didn't seem or feel very good at the time,) have made for a monumentally fabulous year! Each event has had an important, positive effect upon my personal make-up and my general outlook on life.

I want to thank each of you for being a special part of my life. The quotation below seems especially appropriate. I am most appreciative of having you all to share it with.

"Honest men esteem and value nothing so much in this world as a real friend. Such a one is as it were another self, to whom we impart our most secret thoughts, who partakes of our joy, and comforts us in our affliction; add to this, that his company is an everlasting pleasure to us."
-- Pilpay (or Bidpai) "Choice of Friends"

Allan