Last night I ventured downtown with my brother and his family. In Flagstaff we have this little tradition of the Pine Cone drop. The first year, the “pine cone” was actually made of many pine cones glued together. Now, though, the pine cone is this elaborate concoction of metal and lights. It is dropped from the top tier of the Weatherford Hotel.

We also have this tradition of having two different drops. There is one drop at 10 p.m. (which coincides with the midnight hour on the east coast) that is more family friendly. Since most young kids can’t stay up until midnight and they really want to see the pine cone drop, there is an early drop. Then there is the traditional midnight drop.

We didn’t stay long. A lot of people were smoking, pushing, and shoving (okay, a lot of people really only adds up to about 1000 people but in Flagstaff, that seems like a lot of people). It was just a bit too much for us.

The important thing is that Willow and Justice had a good time. Justice was clapping and laughing. Willow was dancing around. And that was worth it.

Resolutions? I don’t typically make any. I’m just too much of a procrastinator and then beat myself up if I don’t meet my goals. I don’t really need that.

I’m already working on the things that I want to change in my life. If I put more pressure on those things, then I would probably fail at them and I don’t want to do that.

But that is so cliche now. It’s cliche not to make resolutions. It’s cliche to make resolutions. I feel like we’re this big ocean of people following tides — with no real individualism.

So, that’s what I want to celebrate this year…being ourselves.

I’m looking forward to reading your blogs, seeing your photography, sharing in your individual lives and learning more about who you really are.

Happy new year!