New Year's Thoughts

I have decided that the next mystery I write will be “Threadbare.” For one thing, I love the title. For another, I had been going to write “And Then You Dye,” but once I started looking at the amount of research I am going to have to do for that one, I was overwhelmed. It was like finding what I thought was the corner of a handkerchief and discovering I had taken hold of a king-size bed sheet -- the subject is enormous. I am going to continue to research the subject of dyeing, but I think it will pretty much take up a year of research just to sound as if I know what I’m writing about.

“Threadbare” is about time of death and holographic wills, and I already know a little something about them -- and anyway, there is not as much to discover in the other little details that will make up this mystery (at least, I hope not).

The New Year is almost upon us, and some of us are making New Year’s Resolutions. Not me, not this year. I’m just going to try to continue doing the good things I did in 2009, maybe a little harder, and not continue doing the bad things. Any time I get more specific with resolutions, I generally get in trouble. This time I’ll be general and see if it brings specific results. Anyone out there thinking along the same lines? Or are you making a list?

Tomorrow evening we are holding our annual New Year’s Eve penny-ante poker party. I can’t remember how many years we’ve been doing it, but it’s a lot. I remember one year we got invited to a party and canceled our poker game -- but ended up playing poker in a bedroom with some other party-goers when someone found a deck of cards! Some traditions are just too powerful to ignore.

The Spanish have a wonderful toast, and I offer it to all of you: Health, wealth, love, and time to enjoy them!