Setting the tone

Today I finished reading Patti Smith's book, "Just Kids," in which she mentions her mother's saying about New Year's Day, one that's the same as my own mother's belief.

The way you spend Jan. 1 sets a tone for the rest of the year.

Things did not get off to a good start because I had a dream that I yelled at my dad and then woke up with a headache. I also felt hungover even though the night before I drank one bottle of Framboise and went to bed before midnight (for the first time since I was a teen). Also, Ella spent much of the morning crying about one thing or another.

With the book fresh in my mind, I knew I had to change things, so I told everyone we were going for a walk. We agreed to go to the cave hidden under the shell shop at La Jolla Cove. We walked and walked and when we got there, Matt said he wanted to check out what was behind the shell store.

I've lived here forever (literally, my forever) and never knew there was a trail that's on the edge of the cliffs and has magnificent views of the ocean and birds and all the cool-looking plants that surround it. It was surprising and lovely. We went back to the shell shop and descended the 109 steps to "Sunny Jim's Cave," which was adventurous.



Finally, my mom called and reiterated her point, saying it would be nice for the family to be together on New Year's Day. So we went to my grandmothers and laughed and discussed happiness and had chocolate, all of which was comforting.

So, at the end of the day, I'm hoping that this new year is surprising, lovely, adventurous and comforting. And if it is all those things, I'll take a headache here and there.