Welcome Mr. Ox

A few days late in welcoming the Chinese New Year but in this season of high anxiety I feel it best to roll out the red carpet anyway.

Where has this long month gone – with 31 days no less? A few weeks ago we had a different president and now it seems the world [in Washington at least] has turned upside down. It is also “season” here in Florida with guests, visitors, parties and special dinners. This is also Super Bowl Weekend in America and in 12 hours I will have absconded to Europe on business. With a dose of jet-lag I’ll probably see the game anyway at 4:00 am Monday morning listening to it in Dutch.

Somewhere in there – last Monday – the Chinese ushered in the Year of the Ox. The last Ox year was 1997 ~ where were you then?

The Ox is a sign of power and of prosperity arrived at through fortitude and hard work.

I read the other day that all years ending in an odd number are Yin and the ones with an even number ending are considered to be the Yang forms according to the Chinese 12 year cycle. Therefore the Ox year will have Yin forms. Other Ox characteristics include dependability, patience and calm

These are all positive characteristics. We need all the help we can get.