2004!

After the question mark (see below) a not totally convinced exclamation mark! To introduce a somewhat brighter note, may I mention that in the meantime I have got a number of more pleasant New Year's greetings, wishes, news. I cannot quote them all, but I will choose just one typical one I liked in each of three categories important to me.

The pleasantly warming, healing, elating category, carrying you away for a moment from your sorrows to outer space, reminding you of a fundamental truth or reality most often not seen. Steven wrote: Belated best wishes for a happy and prosperous trip around the sun! Yours,...
The "even more realistic as the one before" category, but remaining on earth in the middle of the sorrows, therefore helping in a very sound way. Stefan Metzeler wrote in German: Auch Dir Alles Gute zum neuen Jahr. Gruss,... adding in English Modest contribution for a better new year to his concurrent e-gold gift, thus increasing my bullion holdings in London, Dubai and Zurich... :-) To my astonished thanks he replied, again in German, Freut mich, hoffentlich habe ich einen Trend gestarted :-) Dann wird 2004 zu einem tollen Jahr, auch für Dich! Gruss,...which means that he hopes to have started a trend, because then 2004 will become a terrific year, also for me.
The tongue in cheek category, reminding you that you are still young, in spite of being old, and are loved by your friends, and that life is fun and should be enjoyed, far from state and religious right, these two having to be protested. But how do you do all that? Nico wrote in English and Luxemburgish, calling me Bubi, my nickname or pet name as a small kid which my closest friends from that time still use, provided they are still alive, and also my relatives (family all dead), provided they are also alive and still talk to me. I think my father gave me that name. WARNING: adult content! :-) [User ID: pas-chilly-au-Chili/Password: redeemingSOCIALvalue/enter only the bold part] Have fun!

And thank you, golden sun!