Like many in the Love Bytes world, 2019 didn’t go the way I had expected. In truth, years never go as we expect, but this year’s upheaval caught a lot of people flatfooted. I, like many, am trying to navigate the minefield as best I can. I want to stay as positive as I can, because I can’t afford to go down the negative rabbit hole.

In some ways, this new reality has brought me closer to people I liked quite a bit, but who I wasn’t tight with. It has also strained a few friendships. It has made life a bit harder for me as a writer because I already had limited time to write, now I’ve got to work in time to do the self-publishing stuff. Poor me, right? Not!

As I planned out today’s menu, for just Mike, ‘lil q and a close family friend, I realized being able to do just that made me a lucky person. I have family, good friends, and enough that I can plan for a holiday. I need to remind myself why that is enough.

My cousin whom I’m very close with, lost her father last year at this time. (He wasn’t related to me by blood, but he was my godfather.) We talked a bit about how she and her sister and stepmother were struggling with the emptiness. She reminded me that what time we have is precious. We can use it being angry, or we can stay positive, count our blessing and use what time we have as best we can.

I realize that is a privileged approach. If you don’t have enough to eat or keep your house, especially when you would have but for the actions of someone you trusted, it’s hard to be positive. Which is another reason to be thankful. Moving into the new year, that is what I’m going to try to do. Stay positive. Control what I can. Let go of what I can’t. Hopefully next year will be a better year. This time, however, I’m going to limit my expectations so it won’t be as likely to disappoint.

One last thing. I realize very few people read these posts. I can see the views and I know several of those end up being mine, so I’m just stating a fact. BUT, if you do read this, I would be grateful for any holiday stories you would recommend. In light of the year we’ve all had, I want to spend this holiday season on an up note. I would like my reading to focus on things that are happy and keep me in the holiday spirit.

If you have a moment, please drop me a note with some recommendations – even if they are your own. I’ll try to read as many as I can and update everyone which one’s I picked next month.

~Enjoy the journey.

Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting with technology, he now takes his MacBook somewhere quiet when he wants to write.

Since devouring The Lord of the Rings as a preteen, he has been a fan of all things fantastical. His imagination has helped him create works of high fantasy, paranormal thrills and touch of the futuristic. He also writes the occasional contemporary story.

He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his husband of twenty-four years. Together they are raising their daughter and three dogs. Andrew tries to squeeze writing time in around his most important jobs, being husband and ‘Papa.’ Along with teaching how to kick a soccer ball or ride a scooter, he has become fluent in cartoon characters and children’s books. To find out more about Andrew, his writing and his family, follow him on his website or on Facebook.

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