What a Year!
Wed., December 31, 10:34 AM
What a year! I can’t remember another one like it. When I looked back at December 2007, I felt that — for me, at least — nothing has changed.
Two unforgettable things happened in my personal zone this year. First was that my Middle Daughter had to leave just about everything and relocate more than two thousand miles away. “What can’t be cured must be endured,” and I had to admit it solved a lot of problems; but I don’t have to be happy about it. Unfortunately, just like last year, I am not able to pick myself up and go visit her. I am thankful for long distance telephoning and for e-mail, as well as for children who do keep in touch.
The happiest occurrence of the year was the birth of my granddaughter, Lila, but the same kind of difficulty applies. Even traveling by myself, it is a major undertaking to spend a weekend in Boston. I have to arrange for a sitter — usually the U.D. — and set up all the medications and meals. Thus about forty-nine out of fifty photos that my son posts are of the baby with other people. However, three of the last seventy are with her grandpa, who was the most animated he has been in months. No, his health is no better than it was a year ago, but he seems to be stable.
The presidential campaigns lasted so long that I almost forgot that we actually had an election; not only that, we managed to pick the better candidate. The economy cracked and fell, but that wasn’t a surprise. I told you that was coming, and I have no faith whatsoever in experts who tried to tell us it wasn’t so. How much a$$-covering were we supposed to believe?
There is a lot of talk about saving the planet and saving the economy and being good to other people. People are a lot quieter about “…as long as it doesn’t affect my comfort zone.” A change in the way we all think is needed, but I don’t see it as forthcoming. I’m just looking for the “handbasket.”
Nevertheless, hope is supposed to last when there’s nothing left. We still have each other, including those online friends who offer moral support in one way or another. I hope you all have a pleasant New Year’s celebration. And may you all have a healthy, joyful, and prosperous 2009.
