Jeanine and I joined old and new friends atop the Old Hill Burying Grounds in Concord for a sparkling cider toast. For the second year in a row, it was the starting point for a New Year’s Eve party hosted by one of our neighbors. This year, however, we did not join the group for dinner as Jeanine is trying to shake an incalcitrant case of bronchitis. Instead, we opted for a quiet evening at home. It has been a year full of change and excitement for us so we were more than happy with a low-key transition to 2025.