- Do not put out the new calendar before New Year’s Day
- Open the door at midnight New Year’s Eve so the old year can go out
- Get rid of any old regrets or revenge or debts
- Wear something red on New Year’s Day for good luck and happiness
- Give some of your good clothing to the poor
- Forgive everyone for everything

The Case for Chocolate
How is it mothers always know what’s going on behind their backs, especially when it’s something naughty? I loved sugar as a small child. When no one was looking, I’d get into the sugar bowl. There usually wasn’t much activity or supervision in the dining room, and the sugar bowl tempted me. I would use the spoon in the bowl to scoop up the sugar and put it in my mouth, and then wait in bliss while it slowly dissolved on my tongue. Evidently this was very naughty, and my mother always knew. It took me a long time to find out how. The spoon was sterling silver, a souvenir