Learning to Face Forwards

On the second day of the new year I feel like Janus, looking backwards and forwards, while populating my brand new calendar and personal diary with dates: birthdays, anniversaries and appointments. I also realise that I haven’t seen some of these people whose birthdays I celebrate for years, mainly due to the pandemic, but also because we live so far apart.

Yesterday, on the first day of the year, was the birthday of a dear friend who I haven’t seen since 1980, when she moved to Australia.  We were born in the same year, she being the very first of all my friends of the same age. In a week’s time it will be the sixth anniversary of my mother’s death, which I still can’t believe and then, at the end of the month, I will remember the birthdays of my grandmother and my father, both long gone.

It is the second to last day of January that brings me joy, when my husband and I will be celebrating thirty years of marriage, a day I am looking forward to in this brand new year.

days start to lengthen
amid sparkling frost snowdrops
hope in the darkness

Kim M. Russell, 2nd January 2023

Today I’m hosting Haibun Monday at the dVerse Poets Pub, where we are writing about our feelings towards this New Year and/or what we do in the first few days of January, in more than three short, tight paragraphs, followed by a traditional haiku that includes reference to the season. Why don’t you come and join us – start the year as you mean to go on!

41 thoughts on “Learning to Face Forwards”

    1. Thank you, Björn. I was talking to one of my oldest friends on video chat today and we plan to get together again this year after spending so much time alone during the pandemic.

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  3. I do the same with my calendar Kim – birthdays and anniversaries are important. I love that hope in the darkness. Happy anniversary to you! Have a wonderful celebration!

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  5. This is gorgeously encapsulated, Kim! 😍 wishing you happy anniversary (in advance) and hope that the new year brings with it joy, health and prosperity. Cheers! 🥂

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    1. Thank you so much, Sanaa! Apparently, thirty years is represented by mother of pearl. I’m not sure how that works our, but we will be spending a couple of days on Jersey in the Channel Islands.

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  6. Kim, I love the many threads of coming and going in your haibun with the grounding of the upcoming 30th anniversary. I used to write them into a hard copy calendar but now I put them in my phone and set a yearly reminder.

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  7. Not much a of a calendar guy, myself, but My Beloved Sandra makes up for it by being uber-calendarized. We’ve been together almost 32 years & we’re looking forward to our (3rd) anniversary in July.
    Great work, and thanks for hosting!

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  8. The new year does make us pause and think both backwards and forwards. Sad passings and lost connections can be overshadowed by things to come! Congratulations on your coming anniversary! Well done!

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  18. Hi Kim
    We live in North Norfolk as well and we love snowdrops too. We suppose you know these huge carpets of snowdrops in Walsingham’s Abbey Grounds.
    All the best
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    1. Hi Klaus! I think I remember you from previous comments. I have been to Walsingham Abbey when the snowdrops were out. I also love Cley, although I haven’t visited since before Covid. Maybe in the summer, a special trip for my birthday. Thank you so much for commenting.
      Best wishes from me to the Fab Four of Cley

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      1. Hi Kim,
        sorry, we couldn’t remember that we commented on your blog before.
        What are you writing? Our dear Master wrote for Random House and imprints and scripts for film and TV.
        Wishing you all the best
        The Fab Four of Cley
        🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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