Every New Year’s Eve, I take a little time for reflection, to look back at the previous year. While I know 2022 wasn’t easy for many, the pandemic did loosen up some, and it allowed more travel and more time to see family. I took advantage of both. Yes, I did get caught up in flight problems, but I think many of us did who were eager to travel again and see somewhat of a return to normal. I don’t think we’ll ever be back in what we all thought of as normal before March 2020. People and the world have changed too much. And, from what I see when I’m out in the world, people have not always changed for the better. It’s sad.
I am not sad about the time I’ve spent with all of you in 2022. As always, I want to thank everyone who comes here to find books, friendship, and, sometimes, a little support and encouragement. If you stop by most days of the week, you’ll find me, with occasional posts from Sandie Herron and Kevin Tipple, as we review books. But, Thursdays are special. That’s the day we all gather to chat, to talk about weather or home, and to mention the books we’ve read in the last week. We’ve built a community on Thursdays, and everyone is welcome. Feel free to join the discussion. Most of all, feel free to drop in. And, thank you to everyone who does. I hope we continue to share books in 2023.
I made three trips to New York City this year in just a short time. The second one was to receive an honor. The Mystery Writers of America named me the 2022 recipient of the Raven Award. And, that meant I attended the Edgar Awards, which I’ll probably never do again. It really was an honor. Once I was home, the team I work with threw a party for me, including two cakes, one with a picture of me, one with the picture of all the Edgar Award winners.
With my Raven Award at the Edgar Awards.
I made the other two trips to New York with my sister, Linda, because we had Broadway tickets. We had waited two years to see Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster in The Music Man. Finally! I had wanted to see Hugh Jackman in a musical on Broadway. I’m not going to remember everything we saw, I’m sure, but we not only took a walking tour of Broadway and Greenwich Village, but we attended a street fair, saw Funny Girl, Billy Crystal in Mr. Saturday Night Live, Six, The Lion King,, Paradise Square, and POTUS . We also spent time at the Morgan Library. Linda’s husband picked us up in Pittsburgh once when Delta failed us, and the second time, we rented a car and she drove us back to Ohio.
I was lucky enough to spend several weeks with my family. We made a trip to historic Williamsburg, which was fantastic. Linda and I hadn’t been there in fifty years. Even then, though, there was a COVID issue. Christie couldn’t go because she was recovering from a bout of it. And, restaurants and Williamsburg itself were suffering from lack of staff and volunteers due to COVID. The second trip was home to stay at my Mom’s. Fortunately, Christie was able to be there for most of that, and we just had a quiet, relaxing week together as family.
I’m grateful that 2022 found me on the road again, able to return to New York, and able to spend time with family.
Now, my wishes for 2023? I hope we all have time with the people we love, family and friends. I wish you safe travels, wherever you go. And, of course, I hope we all have books we enjoy and want to talk about in 2023!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you and Josh!
Thank you, Reen. May 2023 treat you kindly!
Happy New Year, Lesa!
Happy New Year, Glen! Thank you for all of your comments here.
Happy New Year and give Josh a big hug.
Thank you, Jeannette! I just hugged Josh for you. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! May it bring you everything wonderful. Thank you for sharing so much with us.
Thank you, Leeza, for your kind wishes. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too! I agree about us never getting back to pre-Covid normal. No trips for us this year except for the five week evacuation from our apartment. We had been planning a wonderful trip just before we were told to get out of our apartment in a hurry.
I did enjoy a lot of books from my bookcase which is pretty bare. My son had been plannibg to come see us but that never hapened due to Co-vid in China. Each year, I hope that the next will be better but since Co-vid, it has not been. I am glad that you were able to go to New York and that a party was thrown for you.
Love for you and everyone in this group.
Thank you, Carolee. I hope 2023 is kinder to you. Happy New Year!
Happy Happy New Year, Lesa! This is a good time to tell you how much seeing your emails in my inbox has been one of the best parts of my year. Congratulations again, on the Raven, and wishing you much travel and joy in 2023. xxx
Oh, Wendall! Thank you for those kind words. I hope we all continue to enjoy and talk books in 2023.
I just turned down an invitation for travel in 2023. I’m retiring in the last quarter of the year, and suspect a lot of my travel will be back and forth to Columbus, Ohio to get ready. But, joy? We can always have joy.
May you have love and joy in 2023. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! It’s so interesting, I also did an NY trip this past summer to attend Thrillerfest, I went to many of the shows because you recommended them, including Six, Come From Away, and POTUS. But The Play that Went Wrong was my favorite; I think you are much more of an NYC fan than I am 🤣 I was over it fast, the city is just too crowded and difficult to navigate for me, though for a long weekend, it’s fine, so I’m glad I did it. I think I’ll not want to see a musical again anytime soon! Oh but do see Once Upon a One More Time when it opens on Broadway. I saw it for the opening here in DC and it’s the best contemporary musical I’ve ever seen. And Williamsburg was my first pandemic trip that summer after lockdown! Yes…I have to go again because nearly everything was shuttered and understaffed, for good reason.
And a Happy, Prosperous, Joyful, and Peaceful New Year to you, dear Lesa. The Year of Retirement! ❤
Thank you, Kaye! May all of your wishes return to you tenfold my friend. Yes, the year of retirement! Happy New Year!
Becky, Thank you for the recommendation of Once Upon a One More Time. I’ll watch for that.
I do love NYC, but I usually do it in short doses. And, I’m good at navigating just in my little corner near Broadway, but that’s it.
I’m glad we went to Williamsburg, but there were some places I would have liked to have seen. But, that was my once in fifty years return. I probably won’t go back.
Happy New Year!
My wish for you this coming year is for good health and that by the end of 2023 it will find you retired and happily settled somewhere in Ohio so that you will be able to spend more time with family.
Thank you, Mom! Two important wishes for my future. Thank you. I love you.
I hope you have good health in the next year, and plenty of family time. Happy New Year, Mom!
I hope so, too. Love you
Lesa, you have become such an important part of my life, and I am proud to call you a friend. After being able to spend time with you at two LCCs (last in 2016!), I hope it will happen again. I’ve cancelled my reservation at three conventions in a row for obvious reasons, but I’m going to try again in 2023 at Bouchercon in San Diego (not sure whether I will drive or fly). Keeping my fingers crossed! I wish you nothing but the best in 2023, and the same to all of my friends who post here. Happy New Year, everyone!
Margie, Thank you! I hope to go back to a LCC, but it won’t be in 2023. I’m retiring in the last quarter of the year, and moving home to Ohio. I might find a weekend to go to NYC, but I’ll be spending most of my free time trying to find a place to live. So, maybe 2024, my friend. Hugs! I wish you good health and good family time in 2023!
Happy New Year to you too, and everyone here. And congratulations again on the well-deserved Raven.
We did see THE MUSIC MAN too (though we missed FUNNY GIRL because Covid canceled our show.)
Not a great year, but as I say (probably too often), it could have been worse. And there were plenty of good things if you look for them. Staying healthy is indeed the #1 thing.
Jeff, My mother says that all the time, that having her health is the most important thing. You’re right. Sometimes you have to look for the good things in life, even if they’re small things – spending quality time with family, good books, etc. I wish you safe travels and good health for you and Jackie in 2023!
Happy New Year to all! We should always remember we are lucky that we love to read and can be transported to other things!
Wishing you the good health to fully enjoy retirement as you enter a new phase of your life. Thank you for all you do for writers and readers.
Thank you, Sandra! And, that will continue even after I retire. I’ll always be a reader! And, this is the spot where I want to talk books with friends. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year. I enjoy your newsletter. Joan Ramirez
Happy New Year, Joan! Thank you!
Happy New Year, Lesa. I love starting my day with your blog.
Cindy, I love to know that other readers start their days with my blog and books. Thank you! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Here’s wishing you a wonderful 2023.
Thank you, Bonnie! Happy New Year, and wishing you a year of good books!
Happy New Year, Lesa. Thank you again for graciously allowing me to be a small part of things here.
Thank you as well, everyone, for tolerating my occasional presence here.
Happy New Year to you and Scott, Kevin! I wish you both a year of better health in 2023, and a year of good books and good friends. I’m always happy to have you here. Thank you for spending some time with us, and for everything you do to promote books, reading & my blog. Thank you, Kevin.
Happy New Year, everyone! Really enjoy being part of this community.
Happy New Year, Jennifer! And, I’m glad you’re part of the community here. Thank you!
And happy new year to you as well Lesa, and everyone here. I do, indeed, think of us as a small family of friends, a community you foster so well. Thank you for including me and for giving me a voice.
Thank you, Sandie, for taking the time to contribute here! I appreciate it. Happy New Year to you and Bill.
Happy New Year, Lesa. You have had an exciting year, with the Raven award and several trips to New York. I agree that things will never return to what they were like pre-Covid. I think it has has a huge psychological impact. But I try to look for the good things in life, even so. And reading and blogging and discussing books here is a very positive thing.
I agree, Tracy, that it has a huge psychological impact. Life has changed. I’m glad we have a place to talk about books, and sometimes to talk about life. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all. I hope all of us enjoy good health and lots of time for the things we enjoy this year. My husband and I are starting to slowly feel that getting Covid isn’t a constant fear and with lots of booster shots we hope if we do get it we will not get terribly sick. We were able to travel again with several trips in the US to visit family and a month in Paris and Sicily. I love waking up each morning and checking in with all of you. Lesa I live in Williamsburg and wish I could have met you on your visit. 🙂
Happy New Year, Susan! Now, your post offers hope. Thank you for sharing it because you’ve ventured out into the world again. I wish we’d met as well! Thank you for checking in every morning. Thank you for being here. Hugs!