2008: The Year of Magical Thinking

Yay for boring books by Joan Didion titles (maybe I'll have better luck).

2008 is now over, and I've just finished all the Christmas' and birthdays with all of my siblings and extended family (at least, those I am doing it with). (Inset: while I was writing this I remembered one more birthday gift unopened in the other room from Honey, so I'll open it after this ;]). There isn't really a definite way to describe this year in all it's infinite glory, both Jesus and Hitler sized, but it deserves some bit of recognition for having both happened and being over for good.

I won't go into grueling details of the year at it's worst, because anyone who knows me well enough knows the struggles this year has brought me and my family, and with it my move back to my hometown. With my mother's cancer and other less interesting family issues, it most certainly has not been a year for the books in that department, but we stuck together and got through it and there's no where to go from here but up. We've learned that there is too much lost in being angry or sad, and that Buddy the Elf had one thing right: 'Smiling's my favorite!' It's not worth it to be pissed all the time--you hurt no one but yourself. A simple smile and joke make things much more bearable even when it doesn't seem like there's anything to hope for. That's probably the most valuable thing my mother ever taught me. Well, that, and that playing hookie from highschool to get a tattoo with your mom is the best memory you'll ever make. She's the Lorelei to my Rory, and always will be.

This year also brought the most extraordinary vacation I'll probably ever take in my entire life. I spent a week in England with a few friends, all of who I met up with when I got there, and then a month in Kenya, Africa with a group of 12 Brits that I had never met before. It was my first trip out of the country (well...minus Mexico) and my first trip anywhere (minus Maine) by myself. The first night in London was incredibly scary thanks to the ghetto we were in, and I ended up in the hospital in Kenya with a huge fever that they could only tell me in celsius what was, and neither one spoiled it for me in the least (though, it did make me incredibly glad I had travel insurance). I miss the people I met and became friends with there, and I cried when I left for a solid hour in the cab.

2008 also brought the arrival of legal drinking age. For most people, I think, this is a bigger deal than it is to me. I have been 'allowed' to drink for years upon years by my parents, and the only time I've ever had enough to get me in trouble was when they had no idea I was doing it (lesson learned, ya). My mom made the comment when I left that night that 'it doesn't seem right that you aren't having your first legal drink with me'. I said 'I won't drink anymore than I do now, and you know it'. We laughed, but it's true. I really don't drink much. I'm a lightweight, and don't really enjoy the taste of alcohol. So, my last exciting birthday for a while is now over--now for 55! Senior menu!

But, mostly, 2008 brought a realm of unfamiliarity that we needed and learned from. I used to be able to close my eyes and see exactly what my future held for me, but this year I learned that living in the present is more important than worrying about the future. Plus, I might be looking at a future that is absolutely nothing like what I imagined for myself, and that is (oddly) perfectly fine with me because I love him, and that's all that matters.

We said goodbye to:
Sean (April)
Norb (April)
Flora (June)
Judy (June)
Edna (June)
TJ & Stephanie (September)
& Laura (December)

We said hello to:
Braylynn (Dec 07, but she still counts)
Arabella (February)
& Kylie (August)

In conclusion, this says nothing important in the least but I'm bored so welcome to my rambles.

Peace out, 2008. To 2009: Bring it on.

Happy New Year!


P.S. It was a gorgeous scarf and gloves. Kudos, Honey. Kudos.