The Passing of Another Year

Years ago I read a theory about how time seems to fly faster and faster the older you get. The reason as it was explained - and it makes perfect sense - is that when you are 1 year old, a year is 100% of your life. As you age, each year becomes a smaller slice of the whole and so seems to pass more quickly. I don't know if it's true but its one of my favorite odd things I've read or know along with the fact that elephants in the wild use a midwife system for giving birth.

It's 21 degrees out and snowing hard here at the moment... only 1-3 inches expected, though, which isn't so bad, I guess and it will look pretty when it's done. Angel looks to be closing out the New Year with a major terrorist run. She was already heading for the stove this morning - a new past time for her. I don't know if she likes hearing me shriek or what. Then she gives me the "Who me? How could you accuse me of such a thing?" face. Tara Grace is her usual virtuous self. Even gave me a kiss this morning... although she did decide I should get up about two hours earlier than I wanted to. This involves a fair amount of gravelly voiced complaints, walking in circles and head butting so that I have to put a pillow over my head to protect myself.

I watched a great movie the other night - my last of the year, I guess. It's an old movie that my therapist had recommended numerous times. When I first added it to my Netfix list, it was "VERY long waiting list" for ages and then "not available." The title - V for Vendetta - put me off so I didn't mourn not seeing it that much. Then it came up again and I checked Netflix and it was there and available. Came to the house and I kept it sitting around for four days (I hate it when I do that... I feel the bargain price ticking away with each day) and then finally put it into the VCR the night before last. GREAT movie! Loved it! Brilliantly written and performed.

On the whole 2008 has been a pretty good year for me. I started my blog in February and have had great fun writing it. It has introduced me to lots of wonderful new people. I got my new camera in March and that has been a daily joy. I've had so much fun with it! Now, thanks to my neighbors, I have a printer/scanner and can run off some of my own and Shannon's pictures and scan in old paper photos before they crumble into dust.

I've made new flesh and blood friends, had my home cosmicly harmonized resonanced (see Dennis Puffett), gotten new pots and pans that really really don't stick.... Speaking of cooking equipment... I have finally conquered my fear of the microwave Nate and Dan found for me. It's old and I think I need to increase the time for things but it works. The house didn't catch fire and nothing blew up. I started out with frozen corn in a packet on Sunday and then last night did a more complicated thing. Not sure that I'm going to be a microwave junkie, but I'm glad I'm not afraid of it any more. But back to 2008. Read some good books - the last of the Harry Potters, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, the two latest books in the Thomas Covenan series, and Marley and Me among my favorites. I don't read enough any more, but I'm hoping to get back to doing more of that.

What else did 2008 bring my way? Schwans and less stress about getting groceries. Barack Obama and a future with a man of honor and intelligence leading my country. January 20th can't come soon enough. And of course one of the highlights of the year was my nephew's visits, augmented by a keyboard. Angel and Tara Grace have both been healthy. Tara Grace is evolving and seems to be healing both physically and emotionally from her days of abandonment and deprivation. That is such a delight to see.

I know there's a lot I'm forgetting. The Universe has been good to me. It did take away my beautiful tree, but it gave me a 12-year old friend in return. And I learned that my home owner's insurance works. I can't say enough good things about Travellers. They picked up half of the enormous cost - and they were really nice about it. I survived even though the tree didn't.

Anyway, I have much to be grateful for. Even in hard financial times, I'm hanging in there. Next year as my Christmas gift to Shannon, Nate, Dan, Sue and Mary, I'm attuning them to reiki. I have to go back and relearn how to do it, but I'm very excited to be sharing what brings so much joy to me with the five of them... delighted that they love reiki and each asked to learn how to do it. Terrified that I will disappoint them when we have our workshop. Grateful that I have my kind therapist to help me work through that.

I'm deeply troubled by some things - the push back against change and hope - laws against gay marriage, violence in Israel and Palestine and elsewhere in the world. I don't envy our new president the world of trouble he is inheriting, but I'm glad that he is the one inheriting it.

I could probably ramble on and on, but Tara Grace is sitting on my mouse and a Angel is across the room looking for all the world like she's planning something. I'm off to take my shower and then visit around the net... and maybe I'll see if I can finish off the 2nd of the three books my niece Cindy sent me. Amy Tan's latest...

I wish you each and all a gentle, joyful end to 2008. May the new year bring peace and better, kinder days to all of us in this country and around the world. Thanks for visiting my blog, for commenting and encouraging me. It is much appreciated.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!