Beginnings

The trees have just a few brown leaves hanging on and with another cold wind even those few will be dropping. Out with the old, going on diets, resolutions, January starts out with a bang, in with the new.

The month was named for the Roman god, Janus, god of beginning and transitions. Time to pay the piper as December’s credit card bills come due to clean your slate.

All the calendars for the month of January have a picture of snow-covered cottages or tree limbs laden with snow, how idyllic. In reality, the stark, brown landscape out our windows could bring on a bout of cabin fever. Thank goodness for the little flower that survives to brighten our days, the pansy. And now is when the camellias put on their show. Soon all of nature will compete.

Speaking of competing, the final Road to the Bowl has begun. Which teams will rise to the top after 17 weeks of grueling regular games and playoff games to compete in the BIG game, XLIX Super Bowl? Everyone also looks forward to the commercials squeezed in between the plays.

Eighty-six years ago today, Michael King, Jr. was born in Atlanta. He would go on to make one of the most famous speeches in history and have a holiday named for him. His father changed his birth name, because he wanted him to sense his place in history and so Michael King became Martin Luther King, Jr. and as they say, the rest is truly history.

Take time to ponder, plan for the months to come, optimistic that all will work out for the best, we can always hope. Make yourself some comfort food. Who can deny the wonder of comfort food?

Creamy, hot potato soup with a steaming slice of yellow cornbread and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate all fit the bill.