With the end of 2016, I have heard the argument that time is an arbitrary distinction and the year wasn’t what was horrible, it was the people in the year. They are, of course, correct. That is all true. But why do we have rituals for a new year? It’s about us and the way our minds work. We need permission to let go of the past, and we need permission to wipe the slate clean and start again. We need to feel liberated in this way to muster up the courage and motivation for change.

Thinking about 2016 as a bad year gives us hope. It keeps fear at bay.

I’m still talking with Anthony and working out my goals for what I want to focus on in 2017, but I did update my life list and it’s longer than ever. As for resolutions, although they are pretty much doomed to failure, I’m of the opinion that attempting something and falling short is much better than failing to make the attempt. If your goal is to read a hundred books and you only read five, that’s five more than you read before. Five books can have a huge impact on your life.

Here’s to letting go of 2016, and all the mental garbage of the past year with it.

• Own a wardrobe I’m proud of.
• Take Isobel to the beach.
• Have another child.
• Grow a garden of poppies.
• Visit the aquarium with Isobel.
• Take an unconventional family portrait.
• Take Isobel to Yosemite.
• Sell my thrifted finds on Etsy.
• Decorate Isobel’s big girl bedroom.
• Visit Jose and Lupe in San Jose.
• Create a thrifted dress-up chest.
• Take Isobel to the library for story time.
• Master a working menu for a year.
• Pick out and carve Isobel’s first pumpkin.
• Stargaze in the desert.
• Take a whale-watching tour.
• Redesign my website; host & maintain it.
• Take Isobel to our local water park.
• Visit my friends Dave & Stef in Reno.
• Purchase copies my favorite childhood books.
• Meet our financial goal so I can be a SAHM.
• Take a Mommy and Me swimming class.
• Stock my garden with a village of gnomes.
• Meet Anthony Bourdain.
• High-Five DJ Lance Rock.
• Back up all the information and files on my computer.
• Have another baby.
• Spend a summer devoted with day trips.
• Make pickles.
• Grow vegetables in the backyard.
• Take kids to the Great Valley Museum.
• Make a list of daytrip destinations.
• Watch all of Voyager.
• Learn to work my GD sewing machine.
• See Rifftrax live.
• Read Matilda to Isobel.
• Create a car emergency kit.
• Have a family snow day.
• Visit Jake in Sacramento.
• Take Isobel and Elias to the Aquarium in Monterrey.
• Engage politically on a national level.
• Meet as many online friends as possible.

• Day trip with Lena
• Watch all of TOS
• Ride the California Zephyr train
• Grow and dry my own lavender
• Host a Lego party
• Go to a baseball game
• Make pavlova
• Try durian
• Go tubing down a river
• Join a CSA
• Pick up the flute again
• Take Elias to the cabin
• Hot Air Balloon Day with the Burchetts
• Make butter with the kids
• Throw a shower for my sister
• Take photos with family at the beach
• Try Tai Chi
• Read 10 more Sci Fi books
• Read 1,000 books with Isobel
• Read 1,o00 books with Elias
• Create seed bead necklaces
• Stay in a hotel on the beach
• Paint house a new color
• Go on a planetarium date with Anthony
• Take kids to the Exploratorium
• Visit Jenn & Chris in SoCal
• Test my DNA with 23andMe
• Test Isobel’s DNA with 23andMe
• Learn to edit video
• Tour the McHenry Mansion
• Help the homeless
• Travel with Anthony on business
• Engage politically on a local level
• Have a Fancy Restaurant Manners Date with Isi
• Photograph 24 hours of bread
• Visit Pinnacles National Park
• Eat at the Farmer’s Diner
• Photograph Mike’s amazing yard
• Make homemade yogurt
• Set up a compost bin and rain barrel in our backyard
• Visit the Santa Cruz butterfly sanctuary

• Pimp my closet
• Research my family tree
• Plan a cabin getaway with friends
• Take sunflower girl photos of Isobel
• Take a family portrait with Elias
• Show the kids a redwood forest
• Take the kids to a warm beach
• Keep a small flock of chickens
• Take kids to the redwoods
• Take kids to a warm beach
• Stay in a hotel in SF for a few days
• Take the kids to the Exploratorium
• Take the kids to the Planetarium in SF
• Take the kids to Delores Park
• Take the kids to Golden Gate Park Conservatory
• Have a weekend away with just Anthony
• Try Anthony’s favorite dim sum place
• Host a craft & potluck night
• Try Indian food
• Visit the Assyrian market
• Return to the Alemeda flea market
• Write an eBook
• Finish decorating Elias’ room
• Take a thrifting roadtrip with friends
• Sing with Stefalynda
• Learn to make his grandma’s black beans & chirmol
• Learn to make my grandma’s fudge sauce & carrots and wine sauce
• Create a Family of Isobel & Elias book
• Visit a u-pick farm
• Participate in Family Kite Day in the mountains
• Bike the Virginia Corridor Trail with family
• Xerescape my yard
• Visit the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
• Print business cards
• Get my business license
• Karaoke duet with Stefanie
• Swim in a turquoise sea
• Participate in a drum circle
• Tour a European castle
• Teach Isobel to cook
• Teach Elias to cook
• Make pasta from scratch
• Spend a night stargazing with Anthony
• Create a family photo gallery
• Learn to edit video
• Speak basic Spanish
• Walk on an English moor
• Research our family tree
• Visit the UC Davis arboretum
• Grow my own mushrooms
• Help a needy family have a bountiful holiday
• Bathe in a hot spring
• See the Northern Lights
• Taste ice wine
• Try many new cheeses
• Go on a family camping trip
• Try Geocacheing with the family
• Have an English-style tea
• Walk on the Golden Gate Bridge
• Crochet a fancy scarf
• Create a gallery wall of my photos
• Make homemade bagels
• Fly First Class
• Take family photos at the beach
• Create a coloring book for Isobel with friends
• Sing a karaoke duet with Stefanie
• Craft family Christmas stockings
• Learn to bake truly excellent bread
• Perfect my punch
• Prepare for the apocalypse
• Eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant
• Take a trip to NYC
• Record my Grandma’s life story
• Record Anthony’s Grandma’s life story
• Explore the Tikal ruins in Guatemala
• Cook a campfire meal
• Become proficient at building a fire
• Learn basic and advanced embroidery techniques
• Crochet an amigurumi animal
• Plant a dwarf orchard in our backyard
• Fill a pantry with homemade preserves and canned goods
• Experience Hong Kong
• Get a meaningful tattoo
• Make homemade ice cream
• Set up a compost bin and a rain barrel in our yard
• Visit the SF MOMA
• Hike Vernal Falls in the Spring
• Eat ramen in Japan
• Stay in a woodland cabin
• Explore and photograph the Badlands
• Visit a Viking museum in Sweden
• Visit a natural history museum
• Visit the Rosicrucian Museum
• Photograph my favorite local sites
• Renew our wedding vows
• Witness a huge lightning and thunder storm
• Have a dance party with Isobel
• Watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly
• Grow an extensive patio herb garden
• Thrift at the San Juan Bautista Yard Sale Festival
• Fondue party!
• Contribute financially to our family
• Help Anthony get his D&D writing published
• Display my photography in a gallery show
• Look through an observatory’s telescope