New Year’s Day. Haitian Independence Day. Short hike with Lucy, Tricia and Sean. Contemplation Trail. Stretching. Treadmill at the apartment. The New Year – Death Cab for Cutie The First Day Of The Year – Katie McMaho New Life – Brianna Lea Pruett New Generation – Nemaska Community A Brand New Me – Aretha Franklin New Beginning – Tracy Chapman New Redemption Song – Over The Rhine Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears – Celtic Woman New Time & Age – Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers New Year’s Day – U2 War Turn Over A New Leaf – John Lee Hooker New Year’s Luck – Kiha & The Faces What’s New – Harry Pickens You Make Me Feel Brand New – Roberta Flack At the Door of the Year – Jim & Jean Strathdee How Can I Keep From Singing – Little Windows 2 Haïti chérie – Kali, feat. Emeline Michel Tankou melodi – Emeline Michel Aux Antilles – Tabou Combo La Dessalinienne – Haïtian Troubadours
Every year on this day, I put on my Roberto Clemente jersey and I remember.
I remember hearing the news that Roberto Clemente had died in a plane crash on a humanitarian mission to Nicaragua where the earth had broken open.
I remember disbelief and tears.
And I remember more.
I remember seeing Clemente play. And I am forever grateful.
At Forbes Field and at Three Rivers Stadium, I had the privilege to see Roberto Clemente play. On numerous occasions, I saw him play with the skill and grace and passion that few brought to the game. Slashing hits. Unmatched arm. He covered right field like a blanket. He ran the bases with abandon.
Clemente hailed from Puerto Rico and played right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 18 years. One of the first Hispanic players, he played in the face of prejudice—he faced jeers and slurs. People who had only one language mocked him for speaking English—his second language—poorly. Because of the prejudice against Hispanic players and because he played in the small market town of Pittsburgh, Clemente never received the acclaim as a player that he deserved until late in his career.
And he deserved acclaim because he could play. He won twelve Golden Gloves for his defense. He had one of the strongest throwing arms that has ever been seen. He ended his career with 3,000 hits.
I remember seeing Clemente live. And I am forever grateful.
The people of Puerto Rico and Pittsburgh admired Clemente for his athletic ability but even more we admired him and we admire him for the way he lived his life off the field. There he made the most of his time.
Clemente engaged in humanitarian work in Puerto Rico and in Pittsburgh alike. He demanded respect for himself and the people of Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. He worked for people who lived in poverty and responded to the needs of his sisters and brothers. He reached out to children and provided them with opportunities to develop their own athletic talents. In 1973, Clemente was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the first Presidential Citizens Medal. In 2002, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Baseball has named its annual award for community involvement after Clemente.
A massive earthquake hit Managua, Nicaragua on December 21, 1972. The quake devastated the city, with thousands either dead or left homeless. Clemente organized relief efforts in Puerto Rico. When he learned that some of the aid had ended up in the pockets of the leaders and had not reached the people of Nicaragua, Clemente decided to deliver the next shipment personally. On New Year’s Eve, he stepped into a DC-7 plane along with the supplies and headed for Nicaragua. Not long after takeoff the plane suddenly lost altitude and crashed somewhere into the waters off Puerto Rico. Clemente’s body was never found.
Interviewed after he led the Pirates to victory in the 1971 World Series, Roberto Clemente spoke first to his parents. Moisture filled my eyes as I watched that incredible, unforgettable moment.
Moisture fills my eyes now as I type these words about this incredible, unforgettable athlete and this even more incredible, unforgettable human being.
Walk – slowly – North Domingo Baca Park Watch Night. Roberto Clemente death. Farewell 2025, welcome 2026. The World Is Old Tonight – Little Windows Auld Lang Syne – Jersey Boys Ensemble Auld Lang Syne – Eric Rigler Auld Lang Syne – Shawn Lyons Canticle of the Turning – Rory Cooney, Gary Daigle & Theresa Donohoo New Year’s Resolution – Otis Redding & Carla Thomas Kingdom Coming – Matt Glaser, Evan Stover, Jay Ungar, Art Baron & Molly Mason Freedom – Pharrell Williams Freedom – Richie Havens Freedom Highway – Rhiannon Giddens Freedom Now – Sweet Honey in the Rock Freedom Road – The Blind Boys Of Alabama Freedom Train – Toots & The Maytals Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around – The Freedom Singers Oh Freedom – The Princely Players Woke up This Morning with My Mind Stayed on Freedom – Congregation of Brown Chapel Te Recuerdo – John McCutcheon All Through the Night – Nancy Wilson Auld Lang Syne – Joanne Shenandoah The Parting Glass – The Wailin’ Jennys
No exercise. Jesus Ahatonnia (The Huron Carol – Bruce Cockburn We Are Christmas – Spelman Glee Club The Rebel Jesus – The Chieftains I Wonder as I Wander – Joanne Shenandoah Detroit, December – John McCutcheon Jesus Was Born – The Blind Boys of Alabama & Taj Mahal Carol of the Bells – Andra Day We Three Kings – Michael Doucet Noche De Paz – Mary J. Blige, feat. Marc Anthony What Child Is This? – Ed Gerhard The Goodnatured Man / Good King Wencelas/ Good Christian Men, Rejoice – Folks Like Us Medley: We Wish You A Merry Christmas – Harry Belafonte Angels We Have Heard on High – Eileen Bedlington & Lumiere String Quartet A Naoidhe Naoimh – Quadriga Consort O Tannenbaum – Robin Stapleton, Jouko Harjanne, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa & BBC Philharmonic Swing Low Sail High – The Wailin Carol Of The Bells – The Bird and the Bee
No exercise. Remembering Wounded Knee. Wounded Knee – Mickie Free Ghost Dance – Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee – Buffy Sainte-Marie Wounded Knee – Walela Dreams of Wounded Knee – Bill Miller Wounded Knee Hero – Thunder Bird Sisters We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee – Redbone
Happy Fourth Birthday, Lucy! Cut the Cake – John McCutcheon Sesame Street – Elmo The People in Your Neighborhood – Sesame Street’s Bob & The Sesame Street Anything Muppets We Shall Be Known – MaMuse, feat. Thrive Unafraid – Matthew Black Change the World – Gabrielle, Elmo, Rosita, Tamir & Sesame Street’s Charlie Don’t Be Afraid – Chorus Pro Musica, Alison Adam, John Bell & William Chin Sweet Slumber – David Asheba Wilson The Hurting Times – Barnaby Bright God with Us – The Many Coat of Many Colors – Dolly Parton My Girl – The Temptations Dancing in the Street – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder How Sweet It Is – Marvin Gaye Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross Deck the Halls – Mickey and his friends Pizza Party – Jules Boomer Sooner – The University of Oklahoma Marching Band Blue Is the Colour – Chelsea Football Club Wheels on the Bus – Gracie’s Corner Dinosaur Song – Gracie’s Corner Circle of Life – Carmen Twillie & Lebo M Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole Po La’i E/Silent Night – C. Pueo Pata, Leimana Abenes 10 In the Bed (Roll – Jools TV Let It Go – Idina Menzel The Family Madrigal – Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz & Encanto Cast Encanto How It’s Done – HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
River of Lights. ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. Refugee King – Liz Vice Refugee King Do You Hear What I Hear? – Mahalia Jackson I Saw Three Ships – Bruce Cockburn The Moon Shines Bright – Quadriga Consort The Simple Birth – Barbara Higbie O Holy Night – The Chieftains God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen – Eileen Bedlington & Lumiere String Quartet Room for Us All – The Many Silent Night – Ed Ames Christmas In New Orleans – John Legend Star In The East 3:09 John McCutcheon Winter Solstice Christmas 0 O Come All Ye Faithful – Holiday Traditions Rain Into Snow – William Coulter Patapan – Julie Andrews We Three Kings Of Orient Are – José Feliciano Jesus Christ The Apple Tree – John Rutter: Clare College Singers & Orchestra Like The First Time It’s Christmas Time – Tommy Sands Angels We Have Heard On High – Nashville Christmas Orchestra Stars and Midnight Blue – Enya
No exercise. Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues I Believe in Father Christmas – Emerson, Lake & Palmer The Rebel Jesus – The Chieftains Shepherd’s Rocking Carol – Philip Aaberg I Saw Three Ships – R. Carlos Nakai & William Eaton Sweet Little Jesus Boy – Mahalia Jackson Jehovah The Lord Will Provide – Harry Belafonte Deck the Hall (English Traditional) – Quadriga Consort The Wexford Carol – Eileen Ivers In Praise Of Christmas – This Town – Peter Mayer Ode To Joy – Trace Bundy
No exercise. I Saw The Star Of Bethleham – Bill Miller Christ Was Born in Bethlehem – Darlene Silversmith Silent Night – Jack Gladstone Creator’s Prayer – Red Nativity Angels We Have Heard On High – Robert Mirabal Away in a Manger – Joanne Shenandoah Huron Carol – Jonathan Maracle St. Stephen’s Day Murders – The Chieftains Good King Wenceslas / Rakes Of Mallow – The Boys Of County Bucks Gaudete (Rejoice!) – The Buskaid Trad: Good King Wenceslas – Philadelphia Brass Ensemble The Wren In The Furze – The Chieftains Good King Wenceslas – Ed Gerhard Good King Wenceslas – Celtic Harp Soundscapes Good King Wenceslas – The Roches Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues I Believe in Father Christmas – Emerson, Lake & Palmer The Rebel Jesus 3- The Chieftains
Along the Graybeard Trail 