Chinese New Year Begins February 16th

We are just finishing up the Year of the Rooster, according to the Chinese zodiac.  Presumably, this was a good year for me (born in the Year of the Rat), dotted with occasional annoyances.  For Nyel (born in the Year of the Goat) health was supposed to be “the trickiest area of all” in 2017.  Well, they got that right.  But the fine print (or maybe the smallest stars?) said “you have to be focused and careful to avoid small accidents: your muscles, cruciate and bones are under more stress during this year.”  No mention of the heart which, as we all know, was the centerpiece of Nyel’s life in every single way last year.

But then…  I also read that the Rat and the Goat are absolutely incompatible.  In fact, in the Rat’s (me) overall zodiac, the advice is to never ever marry a Goat (Nyel); that’s the one (and only one) you should avoid.  Hmmm. Thirty plus years too late. But, it’s easy to see why we might not get along, at least according to the Chinese zodiac.

Nyel’s Sign in the Chinese Zodiac

Nyel (the Goat) is supposed to be gentle, mild-mannered, shy, stable, sympathetic, amicable, and brimming with a strong sense of kindheartedness and justice.  All of which fits Nyel perfectly.  The Rat, on the other hand, is quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, kind, smart, and lovely (yes, of course, that’s me!) but we lack courage, and good command skills. Rats are not capable as leaders (also true). And, worst of all, Rats do not have broad minds and, though we are kind, we are sometimes impolite to others (probably also true.) And, finally, “People of the Rat zodiac sign usually sleep late, for mice are nocturnal animals.”  Now, that is an absolute falsehood when it comes to me.  So…

On Friday we will be embarking upon the Year of the Dog during which “the 12 Chinese zodiac signs must show tolerance and empathy towards the people they meet to preserve their karmic balance, especially if they wish to avoid unnecessary conflicts.  Sounds good. (Plausible, even.)  Nyel’s predicted compatibility with all that preserving his karma stuff gets six stars out of ten, whereas I am awarded only five.  Sounds like it will be only a so-so year for both of us.  Hmmm.

Sydney’s Sign in the Western Zodiac

In the western zodiac, I am a Pisces and Nyel is a Leo.  About our chances together it is said, “It is incredible how two signs that represent love, can be so wrong for each other.”  So, there you have it.  Whichever zodiac we look at, eastern or western… not so great.  Which just goes to show you why I gave up all that “What’s your sign?” business when I left California forty years ago.  Before I met Nyel.  Thank goodness!