I SAY GOODBYE AND I SAY HELLO

Buh-bye 2022. Hello gorgeous! THAT’S YOU 2023. Are you listening? I know you are oft depicted as a naked baby with a beauty queen sash, but please tell me you are a Mozart listening babe, able to read at a doctoral level and can brilliantly intuit the good guys from the bad.

Are you a ‘nepo baby’? I say that without an ounce of animosity. Good for you… you have a leg up. And we, the people, need an ace in the hole.

Concentrate 2023. I need you to be mindful of what I am about to ask of you. Last year (ahem, 2022) did not pay close enough attention. Deep breath.

After looking over the notes I wrote in advance of my consults with the previous years I know I’m going to sound like a broken record. But it bears repeating. And although I hate to point fingers… the last few years have been racked with unhinged ugliness, disharmony and hardship. I’ll just say it, “they’ve been royal pains in the ass.”

Yep, it’s been another sucky year. That cookie crumbled, collapsed and went to shit, but I have to, MUST, NEED TO believe that love, kindness and thoughtful care of those who need it most will win out. As well, and it’s imperative, must-have laughter spread about. We can persevere, right?

And you, our darling unblemished 2023, have the opportunity to turn this nonsense around. Come on. You can shake things up in a good way!

Because, without a doubt, all of us perfectly sound and delightful humans will be pushing you to make headway, to deliver the goods, to triumph. And perhaps even change a few minds along the way.

My WRITING continued to provide much fodder for some unfortunate ranting, some unexpected raves and some lovely recollections. Here’s a look back at my “little reads” of 2022. Read ‘em and weep. Laugh and commiserate.

Just give a little click on each title!

CAN YOU SEE ME NOW? To those exclaiming LOUD and CLEAR that we are the generation afflicted with Invisible Woman Syndrome… enough I say! We (us seasoned sorts) are a bunch of cool, magnificent, dynamic, funny, shimmering humans.

BON APPETIT-NOOO. Who knew that the hardest part of being an adult is figuring out what to cook for dinner every single night? I spent a lot of time holding the refrigerator door open looking for answers.

READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP? Why be so hard on myself when looking at photos of me? Now I just tell my husband… don’t be so close, move on back, a little further, further, more distance please, fall back fella, back away, BACK OFF!

IT ALL TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE COVERS! I still don’t know the title of a current read when I am on my Kindle. It should be boldly displayed at the tippy top of every swiped page! That would be very helpful. And just like last year, if you think I can recall even one title or remember what the really good books were about you are giving me way too much credit. But at least I’m consistent.

ONE SERUM AWAY FROM A GOOD MOOD? Hours after my age-defying beauty routine I look 20 years younger with skin like a baby’s tush. Plus I also learned that anti-aging cream makes your face adorable. Hahahahahahahha.

WHAT I HAVE ARE A PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS. Imagine all the things I coulda been! Although the majority of my career as an adult took place within the realm of showbiz, I realized all of my potentiality in a number of fields in

MOM TURNED UPSIDE DOWN SPELLS WOW. I was birthed from a giggling mother – although I don’t believe there was much laughter during the actual birth… as my mom was hypnotized. A tribute to someone I would choose over and over and over again to be my mom.

MY DAD WAS A FLAMENCO DANCER. And a kibitzer extraordinaire. And, oh the tales he would spin.  My dad was kind, intelligent, gentle, insightful, loyal, principled, handsome and funny. He taught me to be kind, to respect and embrace differences… and he led the way by example. Happy Father’s Day to the first man I loved.

WHO NEEDS SIX FLAGS WHEN YOU HAVE A TILT-A-WHIRL IN YOUR HEAD. I learned a new medical term: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo… or as we dizzy professionals refer to as BPPV.

FANTA-down-SIZING. My amassing of memories is insurmountable and what has become of my delightfully wishful “adult” fantasies. Still procrastinating. Still listening to Crime Junkie. Awaiting a beckoning dumpster. I did manage to clean out a drawer or two and have some items in a “giveaway pile”. Yay me. Still not given away. Oh.  

FLEEING THE COOP. Doing the happy dance the summer both kids went off to overnight camp was pretty fantastic…  until I realized that my outward joy was triggering some unsociable attitudes – towards me. 

WHOLLY MOLY MATRIMONY. No lace, zero doodads, no shiny doohickeys, not a single pouf… Simple, simple, SIMPLE. That is what I announced as I headed into David’s Bridal over 44 years ago. I wanted to get married in a forest.

THE EVOLUTION OF MY BAZOOMS. Honoring National Breast Cancer Awareness month.I’ve been aware of breasts ever since I eyeballed those beauties in my cousins’ Playboy magazines. And when cancer made its comeback there was copious amounts of eyeballing giving ‘em the once-over. Now cancer freeeeeee….

WHO INVITED THE OLD PEOPLE TO MY REUNION? Go to my FIFTIETH high school reunion? You can’t make me. Saw pictures. Shared aforementioned pictures with my three besties. And once we assured ourselves that mostly everyone looked waaaay older (than us), we turned our attention to putting names to faces. IDENTIFY YOURSELF!

OY, DO I NEED TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU? HAPPY CHANUKAH!! On second thought should I write Hanukkah?  Maybe Hanukah? OR alternatively… Hannukah, Chanuka, Hanuka, Channukah, Chanukka, Hanukka, Hannuka, Hannukkah? Another option: Channukkah. 

Before I go… Hey SCIENCE… please continue to be unperturbed by all those stones being thrown your way on the part of some (selfish, idiotic, knuckleheaded dum-dum) people. We have become huggable once more because of you. Who hasn’t yearned for a warm squeeze?

HAPPY NEW YEAR… Much love and abundant thanks for visiting, reading and taking the time to comment throughout the year. It means a whole lot to me – and freakin’ motivates me. Here’s to healthy, loving, determination and hope.

Xoxo, Karen

~just in case: ‘Nepo baby’ is a trending term shortening the word “nepotism”