Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and  do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

One last chance to gripe for 2013! It was the best of years, it was the worst of years. We endured the Boston Marathon bombings, which brought our region closer even though it was a tragic and sad thing. We celebrated a Red Sox World Series championship, which eased the pain a bit and made Boston even stronger. Our beloved former Mayor Gene Brune gave us a great book full of his awesome memoirs, and the Green Line extension comes closer to reality. We saw even more bikes on our Somerville streets, which hopefully means we will all drive more carefully (both motorists and cyclists). Somerville also had a very successful year full of concerts, festivals and street celebrations. The teen Sunsetters and the senior Moonlighters sang their hearts out all over the city to appreciative audiences. Davis Square added even more restaurants and yogurt joints, and the young people who frequent those spots got even more tattoos. Dogs are still running leash-less at Powder House Park, as some citizens feel they are somehow privileged and are exempt from obeying laws. Joggers still act like they own the sidewalks. You better get out of their way or they will knock you down! I especially like the nighttime joggers who run TOWARD traffic. And we now have three, count them three, Somerville newspapers. It seems like a newspaper civil war is going on. The one expensive rag will print anything any nut leaves on their phone line. And to think, I used to deliver it! It does, however, come in handy for lining birdcages or wrapping up fish. In 2014, maybe we will see a fourth or fifth Somerville newspaper pop up!

I am about to spend my 60^th New Year’s Eve in Somerville. I used to party hearty with the best of them back in the day. New Year’s Eve consisted of a couple of cases of Bud, a few bottles of champagne and a hotel room. This year I will kick back, eat, watch TV and welcome in the new year with my sweetheart, safe and sound.  I also used to perform in bands on New Year’s Eve at places like The Dilboy Post and The Embassy Lounge. I don’t miss the hangovers but I do miss taking home tons of food after the gigs, not to mention the tax-free, under-the-table cash!  We will order some Chinese food and stay away from the nuts on the road. They call it amateur night for a reason. People generally don’t know how to drive sober, never mind when they are half in the bag. Green Cab’s number is 617-628-0600, so please use it! I will only venture out on the road if one of my kids needs a ride (and I’ll be sure to wear a helmet!).

I don’t have to make those resolutions that are never kept. I already gave up all the bad habits that needed resolutions (except lying!). If I had to give anything up, I’d give up being the biggest slob in the Ville. My house needs a good once over, or twice over, to get rid of all the crap I seem to be attached to. I can’t seem to throw anything out. Someday I will have a dumpster put in the yard and start blindly tossing stuff out.

I’ll make a resolution for others. We need more courtesy on the roads. Let that car cut in front of you that wants to make a turn. Don’t be so quick to lose your temper. It’s not like the old days. People have weapons. Count to 10 and live to see another day.

Lots of good things happened to my family in 2013. My granddaughter was born, my son has been accepted to a few colleges and, most importantly, we all seem to have avoided the emergency room. I am grateful for my friends, family and especially loved ones. Happy New Year, Michele! XOX

And as an extra jolt of jubilation…Somerville property taxes are actually going down in 2014!  So from here, it looks like 2014 is going to be a very good year!  All’s well in the Ville! Happy New Year!