That was fast. Christmas holidays come and gone. Time to wake the children. Time to readjust to the rhythms of school, work. Real life.

The children have been sleeping late since the start of their school vacation on December 24th. On holiday in California, bedtimes extended well past midnight. Back in Brooklyn, we’re still on West Coast time.

So we step tentatively into the New Year. The president-elect arrives in Washington, his children to begin school today. Financial jitters are pervasive. Israel is launching attacks in Gaza.

The world feels very unsafe and uncertain right now.

But I step into the new year with characteristic optimism. Obama. Obama. Even his name is like some kind of anti-depressant drug.

The children will be in their classrooms today. The president-elect will continue his transition. I will return to whatever it was I was doing before December 24th. The mysteries of 2009 begin to unfold.

Stepping into the new year.