I’m sure I am not the only one happy to say goodbye to the year 2020. Goodbye and good riddance! Now it is time to concentrate on a fresh, new year and look for better times on the horizon. My goals for 2021 are a little different than years past. They are usually pretty boring – you know, like losing weight and exercising more. Instead, what I plan to do this year is to only concentrate on what is positive in my life and to make a few changes. So, here are my New Year’s Resolutions.

Listening to violin music always makes me think about my dad who was a talented violinist and luthier – a maker of violins. As I wrote this month’s feature about Flint Symphony Orchestra violinist, Alesia Byrd Johnson, I thought of him.

I have been sitting back, reflecting on what the month of November means to me and what I am grateful for in this crazy year. Gone are the sunny days of summer, the outdoor barbecues, the golf games and the rich hue of autumn leaves. The air is brisk and those clouds forming in the sky just might mean snow … oh, no! It’s time to get snow tires!

National Sister’s Day was celebrated on August 2 this year, a day that celebrates the unique bond between sisters. And there could be no two people more different than me and my sister, Kathy. We grew up together in a small Maryland town nestled in the valley of the Alleghany Mountains. She was the outdoorsy type, while I was happiest indoors, curled up in a chair reading a book or talking to my friends on the phone.

Summer is in full swing and boy, has it been a hot one! I usually love to take long walks in the early morning or evening but it has been so hot, I find myself sitting in the air conditioning, reading a good book – one of my favorite pastimes. I recently finished The Chef by James Patterson: a fast-paced thriller about a New Orleans police detective by day and a food truck chef by night. It was a good summer read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Are you a hot dog lover? National Hot Dog Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday in July. And the beloved sandwich deserves a special day because it is one of America’s favorite summer foods! The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council created this day and holds an annual hot dog lunch in our nation’s Capital.

I took my three-year-old grandson, Elijah, for his first trip to the used book store in Fenton the other day, introducing him to the joy of finding books to read. He was delighted with his finds, walking out with three children’s books, including one about Batman, his favorite super-hero. He also found one from the “Froggy” book series, which were my other grandson’s favorite books to read when he was little (Froggy Goes to School, Froggy Plays Soccer, Froggy Goes to Bed, etc.). I would read them to him over and over again.

The other day, I saw a Facebook post about pit bulls that said, “Warning: Do not leave your child unattended with a pit bull.” The post included a photo of one with a child’s drawings all over it!

I love watching the Food Network and one of the shows I have enjoyed recently is “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” On the show, chefs talk about what they love to eat and where they go to eat it. It makes me very hungry just watching it! Since I write a lot of the food features for My City, I thought I would share some of my favorite foods that I’ve discovered over the years.

Yes, it’s that Hallmark time of year – as in Hallmark and Lifetime Channel Christmas movies! There’s nothing like watching a good, classic holiday movie, snuggled up on the couch with a cozy blanket and a cup of hot cocoa to get you in the mood for the most wonderful time of the year.