My mom mentioned my nephew's kidney surgery and Anders talked about the health problems his father, 83 this year, faced. I spoke about the tough year I had in regards to my friends: one dying from cancer, another's husband struggling with leukemia, and 2 others facing major health issues. Even the high points of my year, which included a visit with my oldest and best friend in Holland, and a wonderful summer vacation with my brother up north, paled in the face of the blessings which I consider the high point of my year: a good life, a healthy family, a rewarding job, a committed relationship.
High points and low points move up and down the scale of the days. They can't be tied into a neat package, at least not yet, as we stumble and glide into the next year. Our stories continue, and our eyes, while glancing backwards, must turn to face forward again: march on! I think of each of those floating lit lanterns high above my head last night, glowing like firefly stars: each a wish for myself and for you, a wish for a good thing in a new year, and the moon smiling down upon us all.
Family & personal highlights of 2009
- A renewed (more than once) commitment to healthier eating and exercise
- Anders more than reaching his goal for Vättern Runt with a personal time of 12 hours
- A fantastic week on the west coast with John & Simone
- The mini-reunion with my AFCent girlfriends in the Netherlands in July
- Karin entering double digits
- Two weeks with Mom in Massachusetts in September
- Finding the strength to help a friend with a family in crisis
- Wonderful holiday memories: family visiting, parties galore, perfect presents
- A school switch for Martin which promises good things for 2010
Best books of 2009 (in no particular order and including no re-reads)
- The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
- The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by M.A. Shaffer & A. Barrows
- The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
- Fishing in Utopia by Andrew Brown
- Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor
- People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
- The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman
- The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt
- The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen
- Coraline
- Inkheart
- The Fall
- Avatar
- Twilight: New Moon
- Star Trek
- Julie & Julia
Best musical discoveries in 2009
- Yohanna
- The Cat Empire
- The Swell Season
- Dashboard Confessional
- Rigo
- Esperanza
- Malena Ernman
- Sara Bareilles
- Swingfly
- Vaughan Penn
- Get the family to the States for summer vacation
- Get back on track with weight loss and walking
- Keep the better balance found between work, family & activities