I'll say this, 2025 broke some of the most positive people in my universe. 2025 was even worse than 2024, and 2024 was a real stinker. If the cheerleaders in my life are saying things like, "Man this sucks," then you know, man, this sucks.
As you may have gleaned over the years, I am not an overly optimistic person. But as I live and breathe, I swear I wake up every morning with the intention of taking it all on. That it all goes to hell in a hand basket by 9:25 AM isn't always my fault.
One of my best friends always says, "Good times ahead, Supe."
(He calls me Supe, as in Super Sal. I hope you all have a friend like that.)
The only thing is, he started saying that to me in 2007. He'd say it whenever he thought I needed to hear it. I think he stopped around the 3,433rd time he said it. Even he knew just a few weeks into 2025, those "good times" bailed on the party.
But, we turn the page. We have to. We have to because there are good people out there, and good people need more good people around them. Besides, complaining just annoys people. Trust me. Being a curmudgeon gets old for those you are being curmudgeonly around. Real fast.
"Grey skies are gonna clear up."
When, you hopeful bastard, when?
But, in my defense, sometimes your head and heart are simply too heavy to put on a happy face. Sometimes, it really and truly is justified. But no matter how heavy your head and heart may feel, you must get on with it. I'm just grateful for those who are still around after telling them the same sob story for the 50th time. And maybe, just maybe, I need to put a little more effort into it. You know, a little more "half full."
I have great people in my life. More than a few have come to my rescue this year. One friend has had an even harder year than me, and that friend still managed to come through when I needed it. Some of you have come through. Others, people I have known for 50 years, have disappeared. I'm guessing it's because of our political differences. I can't change that.
So, to all of you good people, I thank you for another year. I wish you all good health and happiness in 2026.
Be kind and generous to one another, especially if you can for someone who can't.
It goes a long way.
14 comments:
thanks Sal. I hope all of this improves. I think it might get worse before it gets better, but things will improve at least incrementally. Happy New Year!
Yeah, 2025 has been a stinker at times, but there is always the music and the discussion of it that helps clear the smell. For example, I came across The Salt Collective yesterday. This power pop band features a heap of folks from The dB’s, Let’s Active, R.E.M., and others. The first listen was good and there definitely will be more. https://thesaltcollective.bandcamp.com/album/a-brief-history-of-blindness
Enjoy 2026, Sal and the BW community.
- Paul in DK
The winds of change seem to be saying things are going to better in 26 but we have to wait until November
Happy new year, Sal. Yes, better things, please!
This headline:
I'M ONLY STAYING UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
TO WATCH 2025 DIE
**spit take**
I have hope when you can still deliver something hilarious like that.
As someone once said, "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom!
Happy New Year!!
Randy
I think that, at 11:55 tonight, we should all play The Kinks' Better Things and sing 'I hope tomorrow you'll find better things'. Maybe we can generate some positive momentum/mojo going into the new year. At a minimum, our last few minutes of 2025 will be filled with good music.
Happy New Year, BW!
Maybe Happy New Year isn't quite appropriate given the current and foreseeable future, uh, situation. But blessings to you and all of your readers, and may America revive it's sense of decency some day, hopefully soon. And all of you readers register to vote if you haven't yet done so.
Hope? Hope? A thing with feathers, right? But right now those feathers feel like they're covered in crude oil from a leaky tanker.
Here in NYC, tonight begins a new mayoral administration. And while he might not be able to deliver on all his promises (and believe me, there are a lot of greedy shits pulling hard for him to fail) at least he has a positive,
inspiring message. Unlike the sneering Emperor whose messaging for 2025 can be summed up as "You're on your own, suckers!" (That's why I think MAGA should rebrand as YOYO.)
So maybe one thing we can all do to fight back and improve things in even a teeny, tiny way is to remind people that they're not entirely alone. Be more in touch with people. Maybe do a volunteer shift somewhere. Help out a stranger for no reason. Or even just offer a thoughtful comment on your favorite music blog.
Wishing all you Wood Burners a healthy and safe 2026. It's been fun hanging out with you. And a special salute to our fearless leader, Mr. N.
Happy New Year Sal and all we burners of wood!
2025 certainly had its share of challenges. But for me, some wonderful memories including going to Dublin and SF with my wife. And seeing Oasis.
Starting tomorrow, I officially begin my retirement! Cheers and all the best to everyone here!
I believe ‘26 will suck (again)….the hungry will be hungrier, the stupid will be stupider…the wrong people will be blamed and the wrong people will be rewarded…otherwise, Happy New Year my cuzzes❤️
AL
To Sal and all the BW fans out there, just gotta hang in there. Here's to a better year in 2026 (cue up The Kink's "Better Things".)
Thanks Sal, for continuing to post and making BW a place for music lovers. I know it can be tough both personally and when looking at the state of our country and the world. I hope that things get better for you and anyone else having a rough time this year.
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