W. H. Auden wrote these words many decades ago, but their meaning and message are as relevant today as then, perhaps more so. "Well, so that is that. Now we must dismantle the tree, putting the decorations back into their cardboard boxes (some have got broken), and carrying them up to the attic. The holly and the mistletoe must be taken down and burnt, and the children got ready for school. There are enough left-overs to do, warmed up, for the rest of the week - not that we have much appetite, having drunk such a lot, stayed up so late, attempted - quite unsuccessfully - to love all our relatives, and in general grossly overestimated our powers. Once again as in previous years we have seen the actual Vision and failed to do more than entertain it as an agreeable possibility, once again we have sent Him away begging though to remain His disobedient servant, the promising child who cannot keep His word for long." It leaves the reader feeling somewhat overwhelmed with remorse, but with a faint glimmer of hope that we're forgiven and there is hope for us after all. Auden left out the fact that we didn't pack away our memories of Christmas 2010. The New Year that always follows hot on the heels of Christmas gives us new possibilities to make improvements. It's a time to take stock, armed with those fresh new memories, a time to look ahead with optimism and enthusiasm.

Another writer, poet Horatio Nelson Powers, reminds us that the crystal ball of the future is not as manageable as the mirror of the past. "A flower unblown; a book unread; a tree with fruit unharvested; a path untrod; a house whose rooms lack yet the heart's divine perfumes - this is the year that for you waits beyond tomorrow's mystic gate." This week our Merry Christmas turns into Happy New Year. Some will make resolutions. Others will be more cautious. After all, it's a time to think about priorities, to count our blessings, to take stock. It's the first date on our new calendars, and once it's behind us, there's no turning back to retrieve. We'll eat too much again, we'll relax and rest up from the long holiday just past, we'll do little toward checking off items on our to-do list. This year we'll have an extra day on Sunday to do some more "nothing", putting off the inevitable reality of the beginning of 2011.

I have some New Year wishes for you. May your Cherokee Tribune always arrive on time, and may your coffee stay warm and refilled until you finish reading it. May the headlines and text be free of typos, misspelled words and grammatical errors. May the Tribune staff continue to be friendly and helpful.

May all your traffic lights be green and may your next Christmas be white. (Two in a row makes a tradition!) May your health be so good that you forget your physician's phone number. May you find time and inclination to visit all the wonderful sites and events that Cherokee County has to offer. May you and your boss and co-workers be happy and satisfied in experiencing fulfillment in jobs well done, and if you're without a job, may you find one soon. May your family members love one another and show it, and may you be together often. May you find joy in life's simple pleasures. May you be able to rest when tired, and may you find comfort when needed. May there be wonderful music in your days, and laughter and enjoyable entertainment in your evenings... you know, like Glenn Miller and Jack Benny. May your life be enriched by valuable friendships, old and new. May you find beauty in every day, even when the temperature is below freezing (and the redbirds and squirrels are showing off) or hovering around 100 degrees (and the Braves just scored a home run). May the voices you love say the things you want to hear. May handshakes be firm and meaningful, compliments sincere, and gratitude expressed. And for our granddaughter Blake, who is home for a few more days before returning to Ireland, this special Irish blessing: May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Happy New Year.

Juanita Hughes is the retired manager of the Woodstock Public Library.