A year goes by through no effort of our own. The pages of the calendar, which at first seem numerous, diminish with great speed.
It is a convenient package for all our memories, some of which we toast to celebrate and some of which we drink to forget.
A year is a complicated notion: The Earth resides on the outer arm of the Galaxy, eight light-minutes from the center of the solar system and travels at 67,000 mph to be able to circumnavigate the Sun in 365 days.
It is a serious intellectual construct that we love to send off with fireworks, streamers and kazoos.
A year’s end is a convenient time to reflect on our past behavior and our future goals.
This year, let us keep in our thoughts all our fellow citizens and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
A year goes by with white blizzards, yellow spring flowers, green tea and brown leaves.
This year let us commit to, as Sen Genshitsu the retired 15th Grand Tea Master says, “Peace through a bowl of tea.”
Happy New Year!
Volume 5694 (33), 1/1/2008
