Things that I will not let trump - or trumpers - take as we turn from 2017 to 2018

I admit - it got to me last year. I let an essentially worthless person - and his essentially worthless followers - put me in many bad moods, or sad moods.

Of course, I - we all on "our side" - will fight for the truth, be active when and where we can. But - we each get one shot at this life. And so - as I sit here listening to the Billie Holiday Pandora station on our Echo, just in from a brisk walk with my best friend - my wife - hoppin John simmering on the stove (our "good luck" New Year dinner tradition) - some thoughts about what I will NOT let trump and the trumpers do in the coming year

I will not let them steal my joy, my optimism, my peace of mind. They are not worth it.
I will not watch for a second anything on TV - continuing something we started 10 years ago.
I will not waste precious time that can be used watching the incredible diversity of birds at our feeder, or listening to an infinite array of great music, or reading great books, taking a walk or kayak, planting a garden, writing my next book....etc
I will not (at least I will TRY not to) let any thoughts of the orange asshole diminish even a single second of time spent with my wife, or, when we get to see them on our trip, our daughters and their families, or time spent with my friends.

I resent the past year, the media for enabling it, the crimes committed that allowed it to happen. Whether we are living in a "new normal" (ack!), or this is just a blip of temporary, criminal insanity for so many in our country...we also have an obligation to live the life given us, pamper our loved ones, and do what we can to be amazed about something good each day - the sunrise, sunset, stars, foliage, a nice meal, a nice time with friends.

So - this bruised and battered soul is going to face 2018 with hopes that the right things will happen to turn things around....but also to live - and experience - as well as I possibly can.

"they" are simply not worth it.