Jan 1 2021 - Who Chewed My Resolutions?

 

Resolution has gone far beyond its meaning - a firm decision to do or not do something.  In the context of the New Year, it is a promise to do better.  Not just differently as Merriam-Webster says, but towards improvement of the body or mind.  In the past, it was improvement of the soul. We can blame the Babylonians for this practice - that's 4,000 years ago.  Of course it has religious origins.  The Babylonians were negotiating with their gods at the new year which started in March.  Would it be easier to keep resolutions if we made them in March?  The Babylonians idea of resolution was what we would call completion - settling debts and returning things that weren't theirs.  They wanted to be rewarded with good fortune by the gods for the upcoming year.   And when did we acknowledge historically that we failed to keep these promises?  By 1802, when a magazine wrote a series of joke resolutions.  And shockingly, I have found them HERE and give you the page from Walker's Hibernian Magazine, in February 1802.  It is most rewarding to find a scanned book from a public library on the internet, rather than some social media rants.  I had thought decades ago - that we would be doing real research on the internet.  Got that one wrong. As compared to the past when new year's resolutions were religious activities, they are now secular.  The top resolutionS are to lose weight, eat healthier, lose weight, save money, learn new skill, travel more, etc, etc.  Blah, bah... It is no wonder satire set in quickly.   We have endearingly continued this satiric tradition, and there are now many options for our New Year's Resolution Satiric Entry.  Here's the one I have chosen:     You might want to see what our most popular cartoonists have to say.  Here's Dilbert and the New Yorker Magazine.    This picture comes from 2009, on Broadview Avenue during a photo walk about in Toronto.  It seems perfect for the beginning of a new year.   Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Niagara's Beauty

The butterfly conservatory was filled with children and butterflies on January 1st 2014.

Outside the crab apple allee was showing its infinity view with its giant urns drawing the eye to the vanishing point.  Spring will show quite a different picture.

Inside the butterfly conservatory, the Blue Morphos were fluttering everywhere.  But it is difficult to get a shot of them with their wings open.  Sitting on a tree trunk with the wings closed is an easy shot.