Holy Jenga, the sun came up on a new year. (After 2016, I wasn’t so sure it would.)

But the last thing we need is another blog post about how bad things were in 2016.

I figure, since most of our history books are filled with one-sided perspectives, and those perspectives aren’t always very factual…

And since we now live in a society that prefers make-believe over reality…

Why not write my own history of 2016. So here goes…

It was amazing.

My house was always clean.

My kids never fought.

The IRS gave us lots of money back after our audit.

I have perfected the work/life/love balance.

Orangutans are making a come back. Syria is rebuilding better than ever and…

Hillary Clinton won the presidency.  

OK… so maybe not. 

But instead of dwelling on the darkness…

I am going to focus on the light…

And extend an invitation to more of the awesome…

And less of the shitty for 2017 (unless it’s compost.)

But there is an extra challenge for me, because entering this new year means entering a new decade. 

I am not thrilled about my new decade starting the same year that our country offers the potential of nuclear war, or starts burning so many fossil fuels that we cook our way back into a primordial soup.

Oh man, if I didn’t have kids… I would jump off of this doomed life raft so fast…

And jump on to a booze cruise in Mexico, preferably one with lots of milkshakes and tequila.

But thanks to raging hormones that took over my good judgement in my early 30’s,

I now have two small people who I am responsible for.

And I desperately want those two people to live in a world where police don’t shoot citizens they were hired to protect, presidents don’t encourage hatred and violence, warlords don’t kill innocent children, and companies don’t destroy the planet or wipe out species for products like ivory, palm oil and shark fins.

So I have lots to do in 2017. The party is over.

It is time to get to work.

Because it is better to solve problems than cry about them (although I have little to no control over my tear ducts thanks to having kids, so crying is probably going to happen regardless.)

But through the tears you may hear our family theme song, “If there’s a problem, yo, I’ll solve it. Check out the hook, while my DJ revolves it.”

And for the real history books (and because I promised to focus on the good)…

Here are a few of my actual favorite moments, projects and memories of 2016 and a new song (from La La Land) for the soundtrack of a new decade….

 

A bit of madness is key to give us to color to see

Who knows where it will lead us?

So bring on the rebels

The ripples from pebbles

The painters, and poets, and plays.

Here’s to the fools who dream.

Crazy, as they may seem.

Here’s to the hearts that break.

Here’s to the mess we make.

Here’s to a work-our-asses-off new year.

Thank you for all of your love and support.

I look forward to seeing what we dreamers create together in 2017.

(Drawing by Christian Anthony)