Marilyn's Musings

Happy New Year! Just saying those three little words brings to my mind the promise of exciting and wonderful things ahead in the coming year, doesn’t it? As a rose gardener, however, the beginning of spring is my “new year”. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new roses, and of blossoming, right? That’s when I get all excited about going out to my garden and digging around in the dirt to my heart’s content, looking at each precious rose and wondering how it will do this season…

Well, okay, just so everyone won’t think I’m a non-conformist, I’ll go along with the rest of the world’s January 1st date for celebrating the new year. At least that’s the day I’ll start celebrating, because in my family, celebrating New Year’s always means a trip to the Rose Parade in Pasadena, and this year’s parade is being held the day after New Year’s, on the 2nd. Following the parade we’ll have a wonderful dinner, which of course will include plenty of black-eyed peas. I guess I should tell you…that’s an old tradition that goes back to my southern roots. I can remember going to the bank with my parents and getting a free can of peas to insure good luck for the coming year. Does anyone else remember doing that?

Another tradition for many people is to make New Year’s resolutions. What will your resolutions be? I hope that one of them is to become an active member of the RRS…and the ARS as well! Once again, Happy New Year to each and every one of you! Together, let’s make 2006 the best year ever!