Celebrating the New Year with a look back
Probably most people would agree that 2009 was a tough one . . . we’ve lost loved ones, experienced economic hard times, illness, stress, and worry. In my little world, I lost Spot, Amby, and Henny and Penny — dearly loved pets that gave us much happiness.
But, 2009 did provide opportunities. I reconnected with family and friends that I had been out of touch with for decades! I enjoyed many moments laughing with Onion Tears over silly silly things, my parents visited Lincoln, and Mister Man and I spent many pleasant times with our Soup Group friends.
Friendship is something I didn’t worry about much when I was younger. I was too busy being married, raising my daughter, going to school. We moved a lot and I didn’t invest too much in creating a social network of friends that I could count on (there’s more to this, but I’ll leave that part out for now).
Friendship in one’s middle-age (eek, don’t even like to say that) is great. We’ve worked out who we are, we don’t have to “keep up with the Jones” (or the Khardasians), we generally like ourselves and are comfortable in our skins (ok, except for those extra pounds). Maybe, also, since our children are all “growed up” [sic] we can take a little extra time to linger over dinner, drink a little more wine, and bask in the glow of good cheer. I feel fortunate to have really great wonderful people in my life as friends — every one from Miss Misam, Keith our 75 year old neighbor, to Soup Club, work colleagues, and my BFFs Mary and Cynthia. These are the people I see on a regular basis that make life more fun.
And I never thought that Facebook would make a difference. I’ve been able to reconnect with lots of people and keep in touch — even the minutiae of life that is SO much more interesting than anything on the news! I’ve laughed at photos from 25+ years ago, loved photos from weddings, recitals, birthday parties, and other celebrations I couldn’t attend. Thank you face book friends and family!
But, mostly I’m grateful that 2009 was kindly on my family. It’s hard to be away from my daughter and her partner, parents, my sister Shelly and her family. We weren’t able to make it back to Califas for Christmas . . . but did enjoy lots of fun in New Mexico over the summer with Mom, Dad, Larisa, and Nathan. I would live in a multi-generational household anytime (I used to say compound, but Larisa thought it sounded like a cult). I feel fortunate that we all enjoy relative good health and good prospects. We are looking forward to many more good times together in the near future.
So, before this gets too sappy, I’ll sign off with a Happy New Year . . . may 2010 be even better!
Me and Mister Man
Lovely Ladies of Soup Club
Patti Hoage, Kim Joy, Joan Johnson, Carleen Sanchez, Betty Bloomquist
Soup Club -- not for weenies
Dave Elog, Joan Johnson, Ray & Betty Bloomquist, Tom Martin, Carleen Sanchez, Kim & Matt Joy, Patti & Ken Hoag, and Mogli
My Parental Units in Lincoln
Thanksgiving 2009
Duncan Martin, Tom Martin, Dr. Dawne Curry, Carleen, Darlene Sancehz, Willa and Dom Garay
BFF Mary
BFF Cynthia with "Amy"
Larisa & Nathan
Shopping at Day of the Dead Fest in Bernalillo, NM
Tom Performing at the Pinon Cafe in Placitas, NM
Spot
Amby
Henny & Penny
My baby Cleo
Balam & Cleo snuggled up
January 4, 2010 at 7:33 am
Happy New Year! Such a great post…you have such a way with words. BTW do I get to claim the awesome blue chair as your sole heir because I love it! I remember watching pro wrestling in it and always was fascinated by the velvet. Ah, fond memories.
It was great reading your post and thinking back on our convos and times together and maybe once Nathan sets up his webcam we can do video chats! But, at the rate we open packages it might be a few months. Sending my love ‘into the future’….or wait…is it the past since I’m on the west coast? Bah, where is Dr. Emmett Brown when I need him?
^ ^
haha well still sending my love. >( * . * )<
May 8, 2010 at 7:39 am
I love this post! Four months and 7 days into 2010 but it is never too late to take a look back and a hopeful look forward… Yes, I was so glad to get rid of the funk of 2009–to say the least. I do have to admit it is still lingering into 2010 more than I would have liked at this point but I guess it is to be expected. I love it that I am no longer the spoiled brat, pesty kid I was when we were growing up. I can now call myself middle aged and am so thankful to be considered one of your friends and even more thankful to call you one of mine. Del and I are middle aged with two kids under the age of 4–how crazy are we–and #3 is in the planning phase??? OMG! Because of these guys we can’t linger and bask for long with anyone but I sure hope one of these days soon we get to sit and crack open some bottles of wine and visit–I would love to meet Tom. One of these days, something to look forward to.
May 8, 2010 at 7:49 am
Only 4 months and 7 days into 2010 but it is never too late to take a look back and a hopeful look forward. I was so happy to shake of the funk of 2009, truth be told the funk is still lingering in 2010 more than I would have liked at this point but I guess it is to be expected. I love it that I am no longer the spoiled brat, pesty kid I was when we were growing up. I have long since gone rogue and can now call myself middle aged and am so thankful to be considered one of your friends and consider myself fortunate to call you one of mine. Del and I are middle aged with two kids under the age of 4 and planning for #3–OMG how crazy are we. Having said this, we can’t linger and bask for long anywhere with anyone but I sure hope one of these days soon we get to sit and crack open some bottles of wine and visit. I would love to meet Tom. One of these days, this is something to look forward to.