It’s New Year’s Eve, and I always choose to look back and reflect on the year, rather than make New Year’s resolutions which don’t mean anything. I can think about the past year, and move on tomorrow, beginning with a Treasures in My Closet post.

I know a lot of people had health problems in 2023, and it wasn’t always COVID. The year wasn’t easy for so many people. I’m sorry, and I hope 2024 is a healthier year for all of us.

2023 was a year of major change for me. I wrapped up my library career. I had worked in public libraries since I started as a page when I was sixteen. But, it was time. There’s too much change and unrest dealing with public libraries. While I’ll always love the people I worked with, and all the books, it really was time for me to step away from my job. I’m glad I was able to do that.

I moved away from Ohio originally for grad school in Washington, D.C., but returned to work in libraries, first in Upper Arlington, and then in Huron where I was Library Director. My mother and I always joked about that. My career goal was to be Director of my hometown library, and I achieved that at 22. I never had a career goal again. But, I worked with wonderful people for the rest of my career – in Port Charlotte, Florida; Lee County, Florida; Glendale, Arizona, and then Evansville, Indiana.

It was time to come home. My sister, Linda, was the one who suggested I move back to Ohio when I didn’t know where I wanted to go. I’m now fifteen minutes from her in the Columbus, Ohio, area. That means a lot of dinners at her house where her husband is the cook! It also means it’s not even two and a half hours to my mother’s. When the weather’s good, it’s easy to get there. And, I wrapped up the year by spending ten days just relaxing at Mom’s. (Thank you, Mom, for hosting me!)

Last year, when I wrote this post and thanked all of you for joining me at Lesa’s Book Critiques, I mentioned the occasional posts from Sandie Herron and Kevin Tipple. When I wrote that, I didn’t realize Sandie had died. I only learned that from her husband, Bill, shortly after the new year. I still miss Sandie. But, I’m grateful that Kevin continues to send reviews to help me!

As always, I want to thank everyone who comes here to find books, friendship, and, sometimes, a little support and encouragement. I write reviews most days. 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 2024. (And, for those people such as Sandra and Caryn who had trouble commenting, I’m going to see what I can do.)

So, I’m grateful for all the changes in my life in 2023. Most were for the better. I hope 2023 was kind to you, and I hope 2024 is even kinder.

Happy New Year!