Change we can believe in... 2009 is finally here!

Will there be enough change from 2008 to get excited about? God knows we need it. On this New Year's Day, we are all hopeful and eager for change to come about. And I have a feeling that 2009 can only be an improvement from the mess we got ourselves into in 2008.

The New Year found B and I in Miami. This town does know how to put in a show for New Year's. We could only be in only place at at time at midnight, but if the preparations that I saw during the day were any indication, people were ready to party all night to welcome the New Year. And the weather behaved like a champion with its mild temperatures in the 70s and a beautiful cloudless night to suit. Definitely the place to be for New Year's Eve celebrations.

We left home about 9PM to visit with some new friends near downtown Miami. The view of the fireworks from their apartment on Brickell Avenue was pretty impressive, but I have a feeling that the view from our apartment wouldn't have been too shabby in comparison. Eventually we'll be home for one of these big events and be able to tell the story.

The small gathering with whom we visited were all Cubans from the original batch that came soon after 1959. Being the new kids on the block, we were educated on all Cuban matters and were given a brief history of Miami and it's convoluted relation with Havana. Amazingly, all the guests in this group voted for Obama and all advocated dropping the “Embargo” to once and for all improve relations with our southern neighbor. I thought this would have been a dangerous topic of conversation here in Miami, but washed down by “Cuba Libres” and with plenty of Sushi to go around, things were light hearted and relaxed. Still, the thought that today “the Cuban revolution” turns 50, lingered heavily in the air and we were all hopeful for some change on that front within our lifespan.

The evening was capped with a wonderful display of fireworks that could be seen near and far in the horizon. We did all the traditional things for New Year's celebrations, and then headed home to rest until this morning.

Today we went on our usual walk were we could see lots of evidence of last night's parties. Midday we went to pick Alan at the Miami airport, our first visitor of the year. With Alan we went back to the beach to relax and eat our lunch, and then back home for a beautiful sunset.

Facing a new year ahead, there are many uncertainties and challenges to actually make the change we are hoping for. 2008 was a tough one in many ways and I don't need to list them, and now with a new clean slate in front of us, what we write on it is up to us.