Caturday Thoughts – New Year’s Eve With Cats

No fireworks unless the neighbors have 4th of July leftovers. No Times Square crowds or glitzy, tacky hotel parties. No silly TV countdowns with talking head presenters. I like my New Year’s Eves quiet at home. Of course that means with cats. They don’t like fireworks and they don’t do alchohol or loud parties either. I will probably have a little mulled wine but never really cared for champagme. A nice fire in the fireplace and some snacks for us to all are fine for me, and the cats, too.  I might watch the BBC version of “The Nine Tailors” with Ian Richardson as Lord Peter Wimsey, in which key events take place on New Year’s Eve. Otherwise I will listen to music and read. Over the years I have found New Year’s Eve to be a bit of a bore. I have much more fun with Chinese New Year and that is the holiday I turn into a major celebration.

I do have a ritual for letting go of negativity from the past year. I always save one of the many calendars that get handed out each year for just this purpose. I usually use an electronic calendar for my scheduling so I don’t loose anything when I do the ritual. I burn the old calendar from the year, page by page, consciously releasing any lingering resentments or regrets and clearing myself to start the year with a clean slate. Especially this coming year,  I have big plans for myself and the cats. Another ritual I do the following morning is to make a writen contract with myself, outlining what I want to accomplish and how I am going to do it. I print it out and tape it up on my board to remind myself what all my work is for. I might put a copy on the refrigerator (once I finally have one). as often as I go in and out of it, I would see the reminder that much more.

What more can I ask for? I’ll have a cheery fire, warm drink and good food, books and music. After all our little rituals I’ll climb into a warm bed piled high with fuzzy blankets and purring, fuzzy cats and watch the fire until it burns itself out as the old year wanes. It will be a good night, my New Year’s Eve with cats. Actually, most of my nights are good when I am with my cats. They have taught me to be content simple things and take my joy where it comes. They deserve peace and security as well as toys and food and catnip and I am going to do everything I can to make sure they have that in 2017.