I have been remiss this past year keeping up with updates on here, and it’s not been for lack of anything to post or say but simply due, I regret, to a diminished supply of motivation. 2025, while filled with the usual events, travel, and activities with family and friends, has not exactly been the most reliable source of uplift and edification from both national and global perspectives. We know how we all had to draw on extra mental reserves just to keep our spirits high and our anxieties on check amidst the constant onslaught of political, economic, social, and cultural bad news. Nevertheless, we continue to ponder and to prod towards the future, ever hopeful that better things are still in store. I unwaveringly held on to the words popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King, but originally inspired by the 19th-century minister and abolitionist Theodore Parker, who in 1853 wrote:
"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice."
Definitely words to remember even if right now, the universe appears to be bending toward evil and chaos. It’s easy to feel helpless (hopeless?) in the face of this unchecked cruelty and corruption. But regardless of our own personal values and beliefs, we all share this darkness together, and we can all bring our little lights to it. Whether or not we believe God is with us, we are with each other if we so choose. We can provide enough light to survive if we choose to. Our individual efforts to remain steadfast and to stand on our convictions can keep the flame alive in the darkness.
Wow, that went deep pretty quickly, didn’t it? I didn’t mean to, but it’s good that I got that out of the way. There are also bright and cheery things to talk about, and several of them also happened throughout the year.
Year in Review
The year started with fervent efforts to prepare for a month-long trip to the Philippines in February. That month was documented in the following post under the ‘Blog’ section of this site: Trip to the Philippines. Upon return, it was straight to the usual Springtime house and garden chores and start of mowing season - and my love-hate relationship with it. In April, I celebrated another trip around the sun, and began looking forward to May, during which 3 of my best friends from the Philippines visited me in Ohio to attend the Memorial Tournament as well as to do some road-tripping and overall friendly fun and fellowship - Ohio Bro-cation.
June brought a couple of road trips to the East coast, first to New Jersey/New York to visit some friends, and on the return, to Maryland to spend some time with family. Late Spring also saw me getting busy with tenant turnover at one of my Powell rentals that lasted through July and into mid August when a new tenant finally moved in. That was immediately followed by another tenant turnover at my other Powell rental that began in mid-September and went through early November. At both turnovers, significant property improvements and repairs took place, including full re-paints at both, and total kitchen appliance replacement at one of them. Glad to not have to worry about doing this for a long time, hopefully not around the same time again.
In between these two turnovers was another road trip to the East coast, again to visit family in Maryland and Washington, DC. Just over the long Labor Day weekend, it was nevertheless a great time to re-connect and of course, to explore new places (Mt. Vernon in Alexandria, VA) and share our love for food. Also in September came a couple of unexpected and unfortunate events: I got rear-ended (minor tailgate and bumper damage) by an inattentive elderly driver in downtown Delaware; and my 12-year old built-in Thermador refrigerator developed an un-repairable refrigerant leak, hence, requiring a very expensive replacement (they just don’t make them like they used to).
The last quarter of the year went by fast and in short order, Fall preparations for the upcoming holidays and the winter season were at hand. Sprinkled with a few get togethers with friends and former co-workers, it was a good time to contemplate the year’s events and prospects for a better year ahead. Enjoy the photo carousel below for snapshots of 2025 in pictures.
Photo Slideshow
I am now well through the 4th year of my retirement from Honda and am forever tickled by the undeniable joy depicted by the following comic strip —
I still have a few of the year’s goings-on, learnings, and reflections to share, but I would like to do that in a separate post under the ‘Blog’ section of this site so here goes … ‘more 2025 stuff’.