One year ago, I was EAGERLY awaiting the end of 2008. And I mean EAGERLY. Sitting in a hotel room in Emeryville, California, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the irony surrounding the fact that I chose a time zone that forced me to extend that horrible year another 3 hours. I wanted, more than anything, to forget that 2008 ever existed. NEVER had my sense of security been so violently shaken. I wasn’t sure whose life I was living, but I was convinced it wasn’t mine. Perhaps I was temporarily trapped in someone else’s? Who knows? But surely, this wasn’t the course my life was supposed to take.
This year is different. Looking around me, it would be easy to say that life sucks. The unemployment rate is still high, we’re still at war, families are losing their homes at alarming rates, violence is in our faces daily…the list is endless. But I can honestly say that overall, 2009 was a good year for me. Maybe it’s simply because it was better than 2008, and I made it through the year without having my back door kicked in once again, or without having to pull the trigger on “Crystal the Pistol”. A few weeks ago, my husband looked at me like I had 3 heads when I told him that I think 2009 was a good year. Of course, I’m not saying EVERYTHING about it was good.
- I lost the first house I ever purchased, at age 22, to foreclosure.
- I received a nice salary increase.
- I lost my best friend, confidant, and maid of honor. (She’s not dead, at least not physically. Not sure what happened inside, though. She certainly isn’t the person I met more than 10 years ago. Or maybe she is. Guess I may never know.)
- I reconnected with people from the past.
- Michael Jackson died.
- I formed new relationships and deepened others.
- I started swimming again.
- I didn’t strengthen the relationship with my God daughter like I intended.
- Sweet little Dylan was born healthy.
- Michael Jackson died.
- I still love my job.
- I spent most of my birthday in bed because of my colitis.
- Mom found a house that she loves.
- I am on the verge of losing my 2nd house, which is now worth 1/3 of what I paid in February of 2007. Nice. (but I don’t mind paying that heavy price for a sense of security)
- Aunt Sheila’s foot surgery was botched.
- Pe-Poppy came for Thanksgiving.
- Michael Jackson died.
- We packed up and moved in the blink of an eye to a place we love.
- Michael Jackson died.
- Captain “Sully” safely and heroically landed in the Hudson River.
- Michael Jackson died.
- Jaycee Dugard was found.
- Troops left and never came home.
- Troops left and came home.
- Michael Jackson died.
- Sesame Street celebrated its 40th anniversary.
- “Swine flu” sent us into a panic (and had trouble shaking its name and adopting “H1N1”).
- America’s first African-American president was inaugurated (and please cut the crap about him “actually” being bi-racial. Isn’t it clear by now that America sees him as Black?)
- Farrah Fawcett and Patrick Swayze lost their cancer battles.
- Balloon boy wasn’t in the balloon! (foolishness)
- Michael Jackson died.
I think it’s fair to say that every year looks something like this. This is life. There will never be a list of only positives. But for me, this year beat out last year 10-1, hands down!!!
Today marks the end of a decade, one that flew by, in my opinion. I find myself once again looking forward to the coming year, but not with the anxiety, anger, frustration, confusion, and depression that plagued me 365 days ago. Ready for 2010!
Happy New Year, everyone!