Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells
Christmas Bells - Blandfordia nobilis

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Christmas wishes and Happy New Year

Wishing everybody a very Happy Christmas and the very best for the coming New Year.

I write this on 21 December 2011, in the full knowledge that, in the minds of some people, this will be the last year of existence, based upon an interpretation of the ancient Mayan Calendar. Personally I do not credit such stories.
Neither does Wikipedia: Maya_calendar>

  •  Misinterpretation of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is the basis for a New Age belief that a cataclysm will take place on December 21, 2012.
  • December 21, 2012 is simply the day that the calendar will go to the next b'ak'tun.
  • Sandra Noble, executive director of the Mesoamerican research organization FAMSI, notes that "for the ancient Maya, it was a huge celebration to make it to the end of a whole cycle". She considers the portrayal of December 2012 as a doomsday or cosmic-shift event to be "a complete fabrication and a chance for a lot of people to cash in." The 2009 science fiction apocalyptic disaster film 2012 is based on this belief.
I take heart instead from the efforts of this male Superb Fairy Wren, who along with his female partner, and another young male bird, are busy planning for the future, by feeding three youngsters in a nest, at Cloud Farm, up above Macquarie Pass.

At peak feeding times, they (collectively) feed the chicks, every 2 minutes. Not much time for worrying about an ancient "Doomsday" scenario.

Have a good New Year.

But as with every Year, I believe we should all live this next year as if it will be our last. 
Carpe Diem
  • "Seize the Day, putting as little trust as possible in the future", and the ode says that the future is unforeseen, and that instead one should scale back one's hopes to a brief future, and drink one's wine.
  • You might prefer the "related but distinct is the expression memento mori Memento_mori> ("remember that you are mortal") which carries some of the same connotation as carpe diem. For Horace, mindfulness of our own mortality is key in making us realize the importance of the moment. "Remember that you are mortal, so seize the day."

As of course, every day, of every year might be our last chance to make a difference - regardless of the nonsense talked about Mayan Calendars.


Instead I prefer to take my lead from this little Guy - the cock bird, or male Superb Fairy Wren.
For me, he is the epitome of my view of both Christmas and New Year: 

  • New life, and facing the future with vast energy
    - working hard, 
    - but doing his best to look "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (just like me)!



Best wishes to all readers and all lovers of Nature, 
whether in Robertson, or elsewhere.

12 comments:

Duncan said...

All the best, Denis!

Denis Wilson said...

Many thanks Duncan.
Your own Blogging continues to inspire us all.
Cheers
Denis

mick said...

Lots of interesting ideas in that post, Denis, but the best is that little blue fellow! Have a great holiday season! and I hope the new hip is working well - I'm waiting for some more orchid photos which you have crawled around on the forest floor to get for us all!

Sue Catmint said...

thank you Dennis, wise words to end 2011 - hopefully we will 'meet' again in 2012. Happy holidays, happy new year to you and Superb Blue Wrens everywhere. cheers, catmint

Denis Wilson said...

Thank Mick and Catmint.
The little Blue Wren (SFW for the purists) is a popular target, especially on Facebook.
I always love them.
Just hope the Currawongs do not wreck the dream for them - and me.
Thanks both for your comments, and yes, Mick, I will get down and dirty soon enough, but not just yet.
I can walk, but reaching down, putting on my socks is the hardest thing to do.
I had to ask for assistance to take a shower this afternoon.
Ah, what we take for granted?
Cheers
Denis

Tyto Tony said...

Drop the dead: stay gorgeously alive, as ever. Good luck for 2012.

Happy omen: verification is 'brewee!'

Denis Wilson said...

Thanks Tony.
Loved the good omen in the word verification.
You drink one half and I'll drink the other half.
You're right about dropping the "dead" bit out.
Keep on Blogging Tony.
Cheers
Denis

Mark Young said...

All the best for youself as well Denis!

Denis Wilson said...

Thanks Mark
Great to see you are blogging again.
I was a bit worried about your health. Hope things are going OK with you and Mandy too.
Denis

Wally said...

Merry Christmas and all the very best for the New Year!

Anonymous said...

Denis, Best wishes to you for an active 2012 brimming with health and vigour. We're pleased to know that you are on the path to recovery.
Allen and Barbara

Denis Wilson said...

Thanks Mac.
Nice to hear from you.
Keep up your own good work.
Regards
Denis