An unremarkable achievement...

I like to think it wasn't sour grapes that made me wonder about the special prize awarded at my high school graduation to a young woman who had never missed a single day of grade school since entering kindergarten. While on the one hand, there does seem to be something to take note of, on the other, consider just what the award implies...

Basically, besides celebrating the fact that the recipient never once engaged in the time-honored practice of malingering, which we can agree - at least abstractly - is worthy of praise, it also celebrates the fact that the recipient never actually got sick (which, if it happened, I fail to see the utility of celebrating, as I feel that luck would have played a large part in this and other circumstances), or never got so sick as to have to stay home from school (which is to say, perhaps sick enough to risk infecting other students, which is actually an ill-advised course of action, not one worthy of holding up as an example to others).

Why bring this up now? Well, it seemed appropriate.

Cheers...

Happy New Year!

Best wishes, good health, and prosperity to everyone in 2008. May your hearts be filled with happiness and your homes with delight and peace, and may all of your most audacious plans and wishes find fulfillment.

Хочу от всей души пожелать всем всего самого наилучшего, здоровья, и благополучия в Новом году. Пусть сердца ваши будут наполнены радостью, а ваши дома - счастьем и миром. Желаю вам исполнения всех ваших самых дерзких и сокровенных планов и желаний в Новом году.

Cheers...

P.S. Standard disclaimers apply regarding errors in Russian. ;^)