Ordinarily, a gray, rainy day might feel cold and somber. But today’s gray, rainy day feels anything but. First of all, I moved around a bunch of bulbs yesterday, and the rain is good for them. Secondly, I had lunch with a big group of old friends yesterday, a fine set of couples who came to me through marriage and supported me after the death of my wife. And finally, I am ready for the Christmas season as I’ve never been ready before. The house is decorated. Present shopping is underway. And the Christmas cards are in the mail.

All of that is like a big cherry on top of the cake this past year has baked for me. I danced on New Year’s Eve. I’ve been to Red River, Big Bend, Marathon, Broken Bow, the Guadalupe Mountains, The caverns in Carlsbad. My daughter and her husband adopted two fine children. My grandson graduated from Mizzou. His sister started college at Sam Houston. A friend shared his stage with me and my guitar. I played on stage with my children. I’ve played golf with my brother. And I’ve listened to scores of wonderful musicians with my Hill Country friends.

I have to say; life is good. And I don’t really have to say it. I’m just going to say it. Life is good. And I know my wife is gone and I miss her, but nothing will bring her back. And as this year has shown, there is a lot of love and beauty in the world, and some of it is aimed right at me and I might as well embrace it. I’d hate to waste it. Because in my heart I feel young and even though it doesn’t match the mirror, I’m good with that. Besides, joy and love are hardly burdens to bear. It’s life itself.

John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver's Tale