BEST WISHES

January 1, 2026

All evening before midnight, a lot of fireworks were already being set off.
We put the cat in the bathroom. Kiba, the oldest dog, is sleeping peacefully, but Puck — the youngest — jumps up at every bang. She’s literally glued to me now, trying to crawl into me. She digs her paws into my neck, pushes her head as close as she can. I hear her panting, her body trembling.

I’m not a fan of all those explosions either. I never go outside — afraid of those uncontrollable flashes and bangs everywhere.
This afternoon, grown young men were lighting fireworks and, after igniting them, throwing them in my direction. I mean… not children — young adults.
A moment later, an alert popped up on my phone: emergency line 112 was overloaded.
I completely understand my little dog. It is frightening.

I once experienced this in Asia. It was a celebration — loud, yes, but controlled. And of course, traditionally, the noise is meant to chase away evil spirits. I didn’t feel scared or threatened for a moment there. It may have been even louder, more chaotic — but it was respectful.

Here, it feels like it’s about setting off fireworks just to set them off — and sometimes even to bother your neighbors, drunk on too much alcohol.
The deeper meaning gets lost.

All the children called or Facetimed, except for one.
To my delight, right after midnight, messages started coming in — around twenty in total. Friends, family.
I’m grateful that so many thought of Ton and me so quickly in the new year.
I’m starting to realize that, despite my absence, there is a group of people who still cares deeply for me.

So that is my wish: to connect more.
I had already started — slowly — and tonight I could feel that it’s doing something.

Hoping for a beautiful 2026 for everyone.
Hoping that we can offer each other support when needed —
and that we are willing to receive it as well.

We always talk about love,
but especially around these days that word becomes a bit abstract.
So let us start with SUPPORT — being allowed to give it, and to receive it.
A step toward humanity.
Humaneness.

Maybe love does not begin with grand declarations,
but with a hand that does not pull away,
and a heart that dares to stay open, just a little longer.