Untitled (May the bridges I burn light the way.) by Mike Monteiro

Final-edition-of-2010 greetings to my far-flung collector friends. I write to you from the island of Oahu, and am grateful for the last-minute instinct to fly myself far, far away from the now snow-socked Eastern seaboard. Alas, with stormy skies forecast throughout our stay, I expect that umbrellas will be coming in handy for reasons other than the garnishment of tropical cocktails. (Although I expect liberal partaking of those as well!) Today's SF-based edition-maker, Mike Monteiro, is also far from home, in the midst of a sojourn to jolly old England. Fortunately for us (and for you!) we agreed long ago that this most recent addition to his enduringly popular array of editions was a fine way to close out the year.

Untitled (May the bridges I burn light the way.) epitomizes the sort of blaze-ahead, consequences-be-damned attitude that's familiar fuel for Mike and me. I can't say that it's always the best way to forge ahead, but it serves my own instincts for future-tripping well. (An instinct I've tried—with some success!—to curb as I endeavor to be more adult-like.) I'm also a bit of a Pollyanna however, so it doesn't take much for me to see a certain optimism and honesty in a statement like this one, once you've gotten beyond its bravado.

We're all prone to indulge in inventory-taking and retrospective-making, especially at this time of year. I just did a bit of it myself this morning, comparing notes on the year that was with my traveling companion. It's a fine endeavor, but not one to dawdle on—we're all only moving ahead, after all, and that's true regardless of whether the bridges behind us are burned or intact.