ringing in 2011

Fireworks at New Years 2002Image via Wikipedia

I've never loved new years eve.  Its a silly holiday yet events and memories are defined by years.  There has to be a way to look back and look forward. 

Last night Fred and I went out for dinner starting at Jeffreys for a glass of champagne, caviar and oysters and then over to Joseph Leonard for a fantastic meal.  Saw many faces that we see during the year as both of these restaurants have become a place where we frequent ( in total transparency we are investors in both ). 

As the countdown began I was looking around the room and thinking that none of us have any idea of what will happen in the year 2011.  Certainly we can guess about a few things.  I know that Emily will be going to college in 2011 and with her and Jessica in college becoming more independent and adult every day that leaves Josh who will soon be in the same position in himself before we know it. Lots of hope for many of the companies and people we are involved with and we talked about where we hope to see them grow over the next year.  A few trips we have planned already although still playing with who is doing what this summer.  Thinking about turning 50 this year and that milestone and how to celebrate as we should.  Very excited about the Womens Entrepreneur Festival I am involved with in January and how my "career" life has changed so much over the past year alone and where is that taking me.  How do I want my life to look in the next year, two years, three years, five years?  What is life going to look like when Josh goes to college and how we are preparing for that now as we will have more flexibility in our lives. 

These thoughts sum up where we are in our lives.  Yet I never thought I'd lose my Mom in 2010 when we rang in 2010 last January.  That is a show stopper.  Not sure how I am going to feel about a lot of things over the next year yet I am sure that losing my Mom will change things.  Not sure how or what but it will and that I know.  The outpouring of notes and cards has been incredible on so many levels, truly. 

I want to wish a very happy and healthy 2011 to everyone.  Although 2010 changed everything, I do have very good feelings about 2011. 

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Comments (Archived):

  1. zubinwadia

    Wish you a wonderful 2011… I am sure you will find the will to recalibrate and gain perspective on future decisions and issues in this shifted emotional landscape.

    1. Gotham Gal

      i am sure that over time i will but right now it seems a very strangelandscape.

  2. Barbara from Ohio

    Thank you for writing this year. I especially like your recipes and your travel stories/reviews. I’m sorry for your loss this year. Best wishes for 2011!

    1. Gotham Gal

      thanks barbara. more coming in 2011!

  3. CCjudy

    The strength you have is the love you generate for yourself and from others.

    1. Gotham Gal

      thanks judy. i like that.

  4. jdsboston

    Dear Joanne,I just became a new reader today, when i came across your blog for the first time, watched the Aperture video and then read this.I hope you don’t mind if I share with you that I too lost my mother in 2006 at the brutally-too-young age of 57 only months after she had finished her graduate work and on the cusp of starting her own midwifery practice. how wrong? … is that?Anyhow, last night I was watching one of the first OWN Master Class episodes – the one with jay-z came out yesterday and it is superb. In the third segment, starting at 4:08 he talks about his “world view in so many words” touches on religion “god” “flow” — so many things come up so fluidly. but for me it was truly exceptional when he said so simply so freely at 5:11 about “everything that happens in life…one day my nephew passed away in a car crash — i really can’t figure out that day….i can’t really apply that…to anything…i just can’t apply that against anything BUT …” I put a link to the video below if you are interested.What he says there is the closest thing I have ever heard anyone else say out loud about how I feel about my mother’s passing…My tribute to her is to breathe carpe diem. to be more honest. to pursue and complete things i think about fully. to make dreams happen. to strive to develop my ability to con-tribute back to the world a bit more every year. it’s a balancing act and I am a pretty young guy in the grand scheme of things. and that just gives me more time to get it right. and that’s the way i have personally been working through not having her around for the rest of this journey…i wish you and your family all the very best in the coming year and i certainly look forward to reading more of your thoughts. when i see all these humble amazing people sharing their ideas and thoughts so gracefully i realize it’s time for me to step up and start blogging too. thank you. and happy new year./JoshHere’s the link to the Jay-Z Master Class video. Bryce mentioned it just yesterday: http://bryce.vc/post/256312

    1. Gotham Gal

      thanks so much for this note. losing your mom at 57 just when she wasfiguring out her next career is absolutely so wrong.i am all about carpe diem particularly when you never know what is comingaround the corner.will watch the video. please keep commenting!

    2. Donna Brewington White

      Josh — What a beautiful and moving comment.Thank you.

  5. awaldstein

    I am touched by your writings on your mother.I’m in just the opposite situation where my mom is the last (@ 91) of the post immigrant generation for my New York family. I moved myself and my business back to NY to be close to her.Here is a post I wrote on my mom and social media a while back that you might find interesting.http://arnoldwaldstein.com/…Happy new year to you.

    1. Gotham Gal

      thanks Arnold. Interesting post on your mother. I remember when mystep-Grandfather was 91. He was lonely too because many of his friends haddied. Getting to the ripe of old age of 91 and still being full of life iswonderful but it is so important to have friends to enjoy your days with.

  6. Donna Brewington White

    Joanne — I didn’t realize that you lost your mother this year. My sympathies.Losing a parent is a long, hard shock. We aren’t same afterward. How can we be? All I know is that we go on…Even though there is a certain relativity to the concept of time, the packaging of time in yearly segments gives us the opportunity to start afresh — at least to some extent. I think it is in human nature to need this and I welcome the opportunity.I look forward to hearing more of what develops with your “career life” and just in general. As much as I enjoy and appreciate Fred — and that’s a lot, I have come to appreciate the connecting points I experience in reading your blog or when he references you.All the best to you in 2011.