Woah, December. I don’t know why but I always look at December as an ending, a wrap up of another chapter of life. I know I should just look at it as holiday time but under the surface I am always thinking, well that’s that.
In fairness I also look at it that there is a new beginning coming really soon and this year’s beginning is going to have a whole new cast of characters to consider. THIS is the year, probably in the spring that sweet little critters (and I mean little not in a size way) will move onto Swan Song Saltwater Farm. It’s the WHOLE reason I wanted the Farm, to provide a refuge and safe place for some deserving animals. I can’t wait! The thought of having a cow on the property excites me to no end. I just want to make sure that whoever moves in comes with a friend or family member. I learned through my recent kitten experience that though they learn to love their human Mom, there’s nothing like a buddy to make them feel secure.
On the real estate front, December is all about stats. What did we do right? What did we do wrong? The real estate pie was smaller in 2024 so did we increase the size of our slice of it? Swan Agency maintained it’s top position on Mount Desert Island but I really want to widen the gap next year. We are also intent on broadening our market area and bringing in some new colleagues to do that. This is our 50th year, there will be good things happening and we want more cool people to be a part of that.
Finally I DO like to celebrate with friends. There’s the annual early Christmas with friends who are at their winter home but pop into Bar Harbor for a few days between travels. I love that day. Then there is the annual Christmas visit to NYC for shows and the lights and windows with other dear ones - so festive - so holiday! I look forward to that for months leading up. And this year will be the first that I truly have my little family Cygie and Tilly - Cygie arrived on Christmas Eve last year but I never saw her for weeks. Tilly, her sister, arrived on New Year’s Eve and though she too disappeared for weeks upon arrival was the first to venture out to figure out who this new Mom was. This year I have them both as cuddly little monsters, raising hell in the middle of the night and waking me up for breakfast, just as kitties should do. We’ll have a great Christmas watching old Eagles concerts and making plans for the Farm and the glory of Christmas there next year! (Think light show!)
I do though really think December is a time to look back and assess the year. For me, there was a lot of healing that had to take place and it was brutal and cruel at times, I think I am going to go into the new year continuing to miss those I lost in 2023 desperately but maybe not grieving to the debilitating level I have experienced. I think those on the other side would feel bad if I didn’t “live” without them even thought I would far prefer to live with them. I feel like 2025 will be the “I’m back” year. At least I can hope it is.
Merry Christmas to all!