Pole Position for 2023

 I'm spending New Years Eve in the best place possible under the circumstances, and I'm grateful. 

 I'm on the HQ, all the maintenance gripes have been resolved, we don't have cargo orders, AND I'm at a lay berth at the foot of the Brooklyn bridge.  It's raining and there's a mighty pea souper of a fog, thickest I've seen in a dog's age, in fact. 

 I like foggy nights... when they're not interfering with navigation, cargo, or outdoor drinking in my off time. 

   Now, no booze at work, so that's not an issue, and I'm not stumping around out on deck in 20lbs of foul weather gear, either. Rather, I'm indoors, enjoying a quiet night, a hopefully peaceful night to cap off 2022.  

 I'm not into New Year's Eve parties or anything. I know it's a holiday, but it's one I don't give a shit about. I'm privileged to not be particularly affected by the calendar in my life. Tide, time and weather are far, far more important to me workwise. I often don't know the day or the week or the date.  It's just not that germane. I do know these things when it's getting close to crew change, of course. I start paying attention then.  This sometimes causes friction with Inappropriately Hot Foreign Wife, of course. 

 "Hohnnee, what we are doing Chanuery de 7?"

   Me: "...ahhhhhhhhhhh... I have no idea. what day is it today? Saturday? Is it still December?" 

 Her: (Eye roll) 'Oh, por la amor de Jesus. Is Wednesday today!"  

 You get the idea. You might get the idea I'm as numb as a pounded thumb about a lot of things, and you'd be right.   

   So, yeah, I'm not a big calendar person.   I'm not a big holiday person, either, except for the important ones.  Irish Christmas (AKA St. Patrick's Day), Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, My wife's birthday, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.   Heh. I guess I am a holiday person after all.  

          So, yeah, this was a hell of a tough year for a lot of people. I am extremely blessed to have sailed through it easier than many. I'm mindful that there has been a lot of people silently struggling this year, and I am very grateful and sympathetic to them. I'd ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, "All those most in need of Your mercy" as the formula goes for us papists. 2023 doesn't look to be much better, but we have to do our part to make it so.