The Stacy Beam New Year

When I was about fourteen years old, on February 3rd, I was having a bad day. I can't remember all the particulars, but what I do remember is that I needed a fresh start. Now there are all kinds of reasons why I might have needed to turn over a new leaf, grades, girls, friends, some kind of New Year's resolution that had already fizzled... I guess it was a combination of all of those, and the fact that, every year, the day after Christmas, I inevitably begin dreaming of the first warm day when the Daffodils are in full bloom and the trees are covered with baby green buds. I was probably depressed that the Groundhog saw from his little roof hole how nasty the weather was outside and decided not to even poke his head out to see if there was a shadow. Anyway, that was the day I proclaimed February 3rd to be the Stacy Beam New Year.

This one man holiday doesn't in any way keep me from celebrating the other New Year. In fact, this year I even celebrated the Chinese New Year. (I found out that I was born in the year of the Tiger.) I always make resolutions on the first of January, but I'm afraid my timetable may be a little later than everybody else's. Maybe it's February 3rd before I really get serious about my goals. And during January, it's hard for me to do anything at all besides sit in front of a fireplace and hope for snow or ice to cancel whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing that day.

So today is my New Year. I think this is rooted in a message I was taught from scripture that says "It's never too late for one more chance with the Lord." Well, until your dead I guess. Feel free to comment and correct my theology or post the scripture reference that I am paraphrasing, or butchering. Also, feel free to make February 3rd your New Year in case you need a second chance to make good on resolutions that "didn't take" the first time around.