“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” —Brad Paisley
Bonne Année! is the cry heard throughout French speaking countries, not just at midnight on new year’s eve, but throughout the month of January. It is customary and expected that you wish ‘a happy new year’ to everyone you meet during the entire month of January, but only once! If you mistakenly wish someone bonne année twice or do so anytime after the 31st of January, you will be reprimanded! Here in the French West Indies, the locals are wonderfully exuberant with their new year’s wishes. The words bonne année are embellished with et bonne santé et toutes bonnes choses et tout et tout et tout (and good health and all good things, etc. etc. etc.) accompanied by much back-slapping and hugging.
Although I love all this good cheer, as well as the French tradition of sending out new year’s wishes rather than Christmas cards, I am not really a fan of New Year’s Eve itself. After the Christmas festivities, I’m usually tired and have most probably indulged and imbibed too much and I'm not fond of all the hype and the pressure to make this evening outstanding. However, I do enjoy the beginning of the year and the idea that we have 365 ‘blank pages’ ahead of us. I find it’s a good time for me to reflect and take stock of my life and think about what I would like to accomplish in the new year and which habits I would like to improve or modify or even add to my life. And no, I’m not going to share my list with you, it will just make me crabbier at the end of the year if I know that you know what I didn’t achieve or follow through with. Suffice it to say that it’s mainly made up of the usual good intentions and the above-mentioned ‘imbibing’ and ‘indulging’.
We ended 2013 more or less in the same way we ended 2012, just the two of us aboard Taka Trois reminiscing and rejoicing over the past year, enjoying each other’s company over a good meal and some excellent wine and thinking about our loved ones scattered throughout the world. The big exception this year is that we’re not setting out on any major journeys on Taka Trois in the next few days and quite honestly, we’re both content that this year will start out quietly as we settle into life here in St. Martin. The rest of the year is firmly in God’s hands.
Along with our sincere wish for a joyful and blessed 2014, our gift to you at the beginning of this new year is to try to make you smile. The collection of photographs below are a compilation of the some of the things we found amusing during our travels in the last year. We hope you enjoy our sense of humor.
Although I love all this good cheer, as well as the French tradition of sending out new year’s wishes rather than Christmas cards, I am not really a fan of New Year’s Eve itself. After the Christmas festivities, I’m usually tired and have most probably indulged and imbibed too much and I'm not fond of all the hype and the pressure to make this evening outstanding. However, I do enjoy the beginning of the year and the idea that we have 365 ‘blank pages’ ahead of us. I find it’s a good time for me to reflect and take stock of my life and think about what I would like to accomplish in the new year and which habits I would like to improve or modify or even add to my life. And no, I’m not going to share my list with you, it will just make me crabbier at the end of the year if I know that you know what I didn’t achieve or follow through with. Suffice it to say that it’s mainly made up of the usual good intentions and the above-mentioned ‘imbibing’ and ‘indulging’.
We ended 2013 more or less in the same way we ended 2012, just the two of us aboard Taka Trois reminiscing and rejoicing over the past year, enjoying each other’s company over a good meal and some excellent wine and thinking about our loved ones scattered throughout the world. The big exception this year is that we’re not setting out on any major journeys on Taka Trois in the next few days and quite honestly, we’re both content that this year will start out quietly as we settle into life here in St. Martin. The rest of the year is firmly in God’s hands.
Along with our sincere wish for a joyful and blessed 2014, our gift to you at the beginning of this new year is to try to make you smile. The collection of photographs below are a compilation of the some of the things we found amusing during our travels in the last year. We hope you enjoy our sense of humor.
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