Happy Second Chances Day!

Tomorrow is my birthday. While others might bemoan having a birthday so close to the Christmas-New Year’s vortex, I rather enjoy it.

You see, my birthday is Second Chances Day.

Let’s say, for the New Year, you vowed to start an exercise program, go on a diet, and start a novel. And let’s say it is today, January 5th, and you have done not one of these things. (This would, in fact, be my exact situation.)

Second Chances Day! It comes along right when you need it.

Because, let’s face it, in the normal course of human events, New Year’s Day is a horrible day to start something new.

There’s the hangover for one. And it’s a holiday. The kids are still home (are they ever going back to school?) and the tree needs to be taken down. There are often New Year’s Day gatherings to attend. Just not a good day for resolution-keeping.

And then, this year, New Year’s Day was a Friday, which meant the next day was Saturday, which definitely is not the right day to be starting anything. The next day was Sunday, and there were the papers to be read, and the Patriots game and Downton Abbey to be watched. No time at all for anything, plus it’s the last day of the week, so why would you start anything then?

What you need is a Second Chances Day, and I am generously offering you mine.

Plus, Second Chances Day falls on the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Wise Men finally got to Bethlehem, so it’s kind of already a day for the tardy and slow-starting.

As long as your epiphany isn’t, “I am never going to do any of these things,” you are in good shape.

So Happy Second Chances Day! Let me know how it goes.

About Barbara Ross

Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
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28 Responses to Happy Second Chances Day!

  1. Good plan! Today’s my birthday!

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Happy Birthday, Carol-Lynn!

  2. Calla says:

    I loved this..my Second Chance Day was yesterday and your post so resonated!

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Happy Second Chance Day, Calla!

  3. Happy Birthday tomorrow, Barb! May all your second chance opportunities be successful, and all of your epiphanies be wise.

    • Brenda, This sounds like lines for a new “happy birthday after christmas” tune. Happy birthday Barb, from one Capricorn to another.

      • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
        Barb Ross says:

        Happy Birthday, Karla and Happy Second Chance Day.

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Thank you, Brenda!

  4. Edith Maxwell – Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Dot and Amelia Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.
    Edith says:

    I love it, Barb!

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Thank you, Edith!

  5. Sherry Harris – Sherry Harris is the author of the Agatha Award nominated Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Mystery series.
    Sherry Harris says:

    Love this, Barb and a great reminder not to throw in the towel!

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      No towel-throwing on my watch, Sherry!

  6. Ramona DeFelice Long – Creative Writer, Independent Editor
    Ramona says:

    Second Chances is the name of a vintage clothing store in the fictional town I’ve created.

    Love this notion, Barb. Now I’m going off to do 50 push-ups. Sit-ups. Steps. One of those.

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Don’t injure yourself thinking about those push-ups, Ramona!

  7. mainecrimewriters
    MCWriTers says:

    Happy birthday! And – I love your idea! (Besides – I haven’t had a chance to set y goals for the year. Now I don’t feel guilty!) Lea

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Take your second chance and run with it, Lea!

  8. diana8888 – Bolingbrook / Chicago, IL – Diana Schneidman blogs about growing up female and Jewish from the 1950s on, freelancing in retirement (yes, an oxymoron), and lots more at GirlBornIn51 (coming in Oct. 2017). She is the author of Real Skills, Real Income: A Proven Marketing System to Land Well-Paid Freelance and Consulting Work in 30 Days or Less.
    Diana Schneidman says:

    Great idea! I’d definitely start anew if I hadn’t quit with the new year’s resolutions.

    -d

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Feel free to make a fresh start anyway, on whatever needs re-starting, Diana.

  9. Here’s to second chances! 😉

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Where would any of us be without them?

  10. Dear Barb,
    Thank you so much for sharing your Second Chance Day! I really need one!

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      As Mary Chapin Carpenter sings, “I take my chances every chance I get,”

  11. This was so timely. I am now five hours into my second chance…thanks so much!

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      You’re welcome, Peter. Nothing like a restart–for computers or people!

  12. First, and foremost – a very happy birthday to you! (Always easy to remember, since Martin shares the date with you.) And what a brilliant outlook on beginnings. Thank you.

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      I never forget that Martin is exactly 30 years younger than me.

      Tell him to enjoy Second Chances Day!

  13. Joy Scaggs says:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY !! May your day be filled with lots of love , joy and laughter . Happy Second chance day ! We all need one of those. God bless

    • Barbara Ross – Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
      Barb Ross says:

      Thank you, Joy. Don’t we all?

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