Do you get charged up over holidays? For most of them I don’t, but the pair now approaching always key me up in the right way, sharpening my focus on family and friends, and intensifying a feeling of – there’s no better word for it – JOY. I can’t explain what triggers it, but genuine joy pops up every year. I’m on the upslope right now, feeling great.

I grew up saying “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” so I now wish the same to all of you. If that phrase doesn’t ring your bell, please have the happiest of holidays.

This year I’m also looking forward to the new year with mixed emotions, a combination of excitement, trepidation, and considerable anxiety, all because of the enterprise I mentioned earlier. In short, beginning in January, I’m going to serialize my novel, The Colors of Medicine on this website (See here for details).

I’ll keep each installment short, probably no more than a thousand words each time, so you can occasionally savor the beauty of my words, and cringe as I expose my missteps. My anxiety, of course, stems from fear that I’ll at times be running in public dressed only in my underwear.

So spread the word, PLEASE, to your family, neighbors, and even distant cousins, and tell them the show is about to begin (I wear Jockey briefs). Encourage them to subscribe to my blog, and if you haven’t signed up yourself, please do so now.

I know a number of you have tried to subscribe and failed. Unfortunately this is not a rare phenomenon with the platform I’m using. It fails at times. So if that has happened to you, I apologize and offer Plan B. If you, or others you know, are unable to subscribe by using the Subscribe to Blog via Email box on my site, simply email me at kengoetz4@gmail.com and I will personally notify you each time a new post is up.

P.S.

The images are of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, a shopping center that has been decorated with Christmas lights annually for over 90 years (See here). ‘Tis the Season of Joy!