What IWS Fans Are Saying

Friday, December 30, 2011

May Your New Year Be Colorful


"Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year…it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols." ~Thomas Mann

The words of Mann are true, but…when I read his passage, I wonder about the spirit in which he wrote it.

Is it merely a statement of fact, or is he also mocking human behavior and its attempt to harness time…to take time, and somehow, define it?

I think the latter. Mann is, in all of his stoic, efficient, German manner, correct about the ambiguity and elusiveness of time.

However, “we mortals” have good reason, or at least a reason to mark the New Year with bells and an alcohol induced blaring of trumpets.

New Year’s Day is a time when many people gather to watch football, feast on pork and sauerkraut, and publicly (and foolishly) announce their resolutions for the coming year.

Some people view the day as just another day off from work.

Those same people oft times say that anytime of year is a good time to take stock and better yourself without the confines of a once a year resolution.

I myself, enjoy the festivities surrounding the New Year, but also understand the reasoning of those who eschew the tradition of making once a year promises.

My reason to celebrate, or at least observe the New Year, lies somewhere in between the aforementioned reasons...and it relates to the statement made by Thomas Mann.

I think that between 8 P.M. New Year’s Eve while partying, and 9 A.M. New Year’s Day when one wakes up (or is finally going to bed), time does, in a way, stand still.

As Mann said, “Time has no divisions…”, and during those precious few hours, we are like a broken clock. We are both A.M. and P.M., past and present; preface and postscript.

We can visualize everything we have ever been and ever done, in the often stark, monochromatic brutality of black and white.

We can also see everything that we want to be and want to do, in color…bright colors, colors that sometimes elude our sight because we do not take the time to notice them the other 364 days of the year.

The transition between the old and the new, is but a razor thin balance between Rationalism and Empiricism, between regret and hope…between charcoal drawings and watercolors.

I hope that we can all cut through the drab, dreary, and sometimes painful black and white screen of this world and of our personal prologues, and see the colors that we oft times miss.

My wish for you this New Year is that you use your past experiences as a pencil sketch, and spend 2012 turning that sketch into a painting of bright and wonderful watercolors.

Be safe…Kiss someone you love at midnight…and Happy New Year!!

Cheers!!


Twitter: @mattmaniws

12 comments:

Mike said...

'..is he also mocking human behavior..'

Who would do something so dastardly as to mock another human?


Don't forget the herring for midnight. ummmmm um, good stuff.

I'm With Stupid said...

Mike: You enjoying herring is as bad as Jayman enjoying Vienna Sausages. What is wrong with you people? Cheers Mike!!

Matt-Man

Anonymous said...

I hope mine is colorful.

I'm With Stupid said...

Pesos: I hope your New Year is colorful as well. Cheers Pesos!!

Matt-Man

I'm With Stupid said...

I'm sure my new year will be colorful considering that I don't care for white people very much.

Happy New Year Matt-Man!

Jay

I'm With Stupid said...

Jay: Ha...Your acceptance of others and cultural diversity is one of your most redeeming qualities. Happy New Year and see you on the radio tomorrow night. Cheers Jayman!!

Matt-Man

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

Happy New Year Matt Man.

I'm With Stupid said...

Peg: You too, ye of the lovely voice. Cheers Pegggggggg!!

Matt-Man

Warrior_Kat said...

Happy New Year Matt and Jay! I don't know if I've ever told you this Matt, but you really are a good writer. I think you would be very successful at writing books. Maybe that could be a goal for 2012. See you on the New York Times Best Seller list!

I'm With Stupid said...

Warrior Kat: Well thanks, Kat. I have my moments I guess. And let me tell you/ask you/implore you...

If I ever do write a book, and even if it's on a serious subject, we need to slap a centerfold picture of you smack dab in the middle of it. Best Seller list indeed.

Seriously though, thanks lovely one and have a great New Year. Cheers Kat!!

Matt-Man

Warrior_Kat said...

LOL! You silly Chucklehead you. Thanks, I'm flattered. :-)

I'm With Stupid said...

Hee