As the year comes to a close we can look back upon lessons learned, or lessons we searched for –but really weren’t there.  Best of all, time is time we spent with friends.  Philosophy is not a solitary activity.  Philosophy is a journey that is made in the company of others, much like the pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. 

Thanks to Lori for hosting our holiday gathering last night at her place.  What good memories we all came away with.  The room was filled with light, a festive Christmas tree, fire in the fireplace (a real fire with burning wood) and the table was laden with all manner of delicacies.  The word that comes to mind which describes the evening is “abundance.”  Extended conversations took place about all manner of topics.

A word of thanks to Chris for the clever game that lent further enjoyment to our presence together.  The game commenced with a door prize drawing, the “Schrodinger Cat” prize which could not be known until the winner opened the box.  Don was the winner.  This was a determined outcome, which could not have been predicted. As followup to the drawing, the discussion about the admired qualities of the animals which each of us drew on our little slip of paper was an opportunity to gain further insight into the individuals in the room.

Thus we complete another year of friendship in a fitting manner with a celebration.  The life of the mind is always new!  I am looking forward to the the year to come.