Seven Swans a Swimming

On to the 7th Day of Christmas which is represented by 7 Swans A-swimming. This was seen as the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders. In Medieval times, owning swans signaled nobility. To serve a swan at a feast was the mark of elevated social status, a prestigious item on the banqueting tables of medieval England. Charles Darwin commented it was like venison mixed with wild duck.

Whatever. Today that means that Christmas is in the books. The year has come to an end. Thinking back on this day last year, we all had hopes that the awful pandemic was on the way out. Certainly by Christmas of 2021 we would be back to normal. After all the new vaccine to prevent the virus had been introduced earlier that month in 2020. We all breathed a sigh of relief. It was only a matter of time before most Americans would be vaccinated and at worse this virus would become another "flu" among us. Just one more malady we could prevent with annual shot.

Little did we know that so many would resist the vaccine. But I will not go down that rabbit hole. It is what it is and we are where we are. Just 13 months ago I was familiar with the term "Epidemic" but was not quite sure just what the term "pandemic" implied. Now those 2 words along with "endemic" are part of our everyday lexicon. I pray before we cross the Rubicon and we find ourselves in a time a when Covid19 is seen as endemic. 

All that aside, I am optimistic for the coming year. Perhaps I will be able to lose the pounds I gained over the holidays. Maybe I will get my closets cleaned out. Could this be the year I simplify my life? Probably not, given I have had these on my list of "resolutions" for the past dozen or so years. 

I could be ambitious and add "Learn a new Language" to my list of intentions. But given I am still trying to manage English, that may be a bit much.  There are always those 2 books I promised myself I would finish - 2 years ago. And my kitchen cabinets that need to be organized. Given my age, a steady exercise regimen would be helpful. 

No, this year I will be pragmatic, reasonable, practical, sensible, realistic. Perhaps it is time to be honest. As good as my intentions have been over the many years, I know there will be no diet, no exercise, and little organization. At my age, shouldn't I live in the moment? Why should I be shackled by a list of good intentions?