The new slate

2009 ends tonight. Not a moment too soon for many people. I've had a pretty good year personally, but it's been 12 months of trauma and loss to many people I care about.

So farewell 2009. Let us ritualistically tear up the calendar and burn the dates which hurt us most. Having participated in that activity one year, I can attest there's a certain catharsis in it.

I've always liked the idea of the New Year - a psychological point in which you can underline events and choices and then start afres...