Goodbye and Good Riddance 2004: Well, I Wasn't Expecting That.
Every year we watch the Charlie Brown special, do the Snoopy dance, wish everybody a Merry Christmukkah, and thank our Secret Santas in the good riddance thread. Which is this one, in case you were wondering. Oh, and 2004? Don't think we've forgotten about you.
I dunno as 2004 sticks out in my mind, even only 35 minutes after it ended. I started the year with the Project from Hell and a 3-week trip to Hawaii, which should have been more fun than it was.
But along the way I met some nice and talented new friends on the interbunny, did a lot of writing (some of it even original non-derivative), got a raise, said farewell to a good work mentor/friend, attended two of the best weddings ever, one of which was Buffistas marrying each other. My family is well and employed and growing, I'm healthy and planning to go overseas in 3 weeks.
2005 looks like it could be a good year if I keep my focus and get productive.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night.
t hugs the Buffistas, every one
Good morning and Happy New Year, again, for those of you that are awake to see it.
Ya'll, no one does a New Year's shindig like the Scottish. No One.
I've been trying to think about this post for a couple weeks now, putting together my thoughts on the past year. It's gone by in a blur, and one of the things that's been most notable to be has been change: in myself, in my life. I started off the year in Rome, which really opened the world to me in terms of travel and possibilities. I think I came back from that trip with a determination that I absolutely *had* to go abroad again. My desire for travel has always been there, but I think I really realised it this year.
I've seen Steph a lot this year. That's been one of my greatest things in 2004, getting to spend a substantial amount of time with Steph, who is easily one of my favorite people in the world. I'm really lucky to have her nearby, and I'm always grateful for her kindness and seeming happiness to have me around.
I also got way more involved in fandom, as my interests have changed and I've grown up a little. I'm more interested in giving back, in sharing, in participating. I think that's made me more interesting and more adult, in some ways. I'm only beginning to realise the ways fandom has changed my life, in mostly positive ways.
This year I've traveled to Rome, New York, Cincinnati, Seattle, Chicago, Washington DC, Lodnon, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Germany, Italy. Probably more places I can't remember. Most of those involved seeing Buffistas, or people I know in fandom, and really, a girl couldn't have a better circle of friends. I've seen a lot, and all that traveling has only made it more clear to me how much there is left for me to see.
I was pretty lucky in my home life, too, when my sister came to college with me and my real-life friends group solidified into people that I'm happy to be with and are happy to be with me. I have best friends now, which is a radical change from four years ago. There are people I want to call that aren't my parents. It's kind of a self-awakening, to know that people do, in fact, like me.
At the same time, I've come to terms with my father not being, well, a father, and I got into a bitter feud with my mother that resulted in threats and pleadings on her part and my not speaking to her for two months. I've cried more this year than I ever have before, I think, but I feel better about crying. It's January, now, and I'm talking to both my mother and my father, and while I don't know how strong those relationships are, they are at least not falling apart.
I came out to my sister this year. That's one of the hardest things I've ever done. She didn't speak to me for a week, but the crappiness of that week was so worth it when she told me she loved me no matter what. She just wished I'd told her sooner.
I went to Chicago and lived on my own for three months. I'm finally understanding how important that was for me, for my independence and my growing-up. I can do this adult thing, now. I know it. I'm so ready to do it, even though I have to wait a little longer. I met wonderful people, like tommyrot and Brenda M and Kalshane and aurelia who let me be a part of their lives, if only for a little while. I fell in love with a city. I got through a crappy job.
And then I came to Britain, and the effects of this trip on me are pretty fucking amazing. I've seen some of the most beautiful landscape in the entire world. I've lived a dream I had when I was 12. I know what bangers and mash are. I've met some wonderful people, and I've come to understand just what being an American means for my life, and my identity. I've answered more goddamned questions about who I've voted for than I care to remember, and I have spent a great amount of time with both Roz K and Fay, two women I hope I will grow to be like, if I'm lucky. I can get around London, and I can hold my own at Hogsmanay in Scotland.
2004 was a topsy-turvy year--I've done more and seen more than I ever (continued...)
( continues...) imagined I would do when I was sixteen and bitter and using the internet as escapism. I've got people I love and people who love me, people I look forward to seeing and sincerely care about. I have a friend in nearly every place I go to, which is truly a wonderful gift. But at the same time, I've gone through the hardest emotional struggles I've come across yet, and it's been a tough year, socio-economically. My wallet was stolen, I ran out of money, the exchange rate is killing me, and I've learned that it is always better to have a job, even if it's a crap job. In the end, though, it all balances out. And I think I'm a better person than when you guys first met me, almost three (or is it four?) years ago this month. At least I type with capital letters now.
I don't do resolutions; I can't even manage to keep up with a to-do list. But there are two things I'd like to do in 2005: see more of you people, which requires that I travel at least at the same rate I'm doing so now; and get into a relationship, if the opportunity presents itself. I would really like to date somebody, even though the pickings are slim in grand old Berea. Whether these things can be accomplished, I don't know. But I'm going to give it a try.
I've seen Steph a lot this year. That's been one of my greatest things in 2004, getting to spend a substantial amount of time with Steph, who is easily one of my favorite people in the world. I'm really lucky to have her nearby, and I'm always grateful for her kindness and seeming happiness to have me around.
Awww. ::sniffle:: Getting to spend time with you is always a HUGE treat for me, too, one that I look forward to! We would be dangerous if we were in the same city, I tell you.
Ack! I was right in the middle of a big ol' post bout 2004, then I accidentally hit my touchpad in just a way that it hit 'back' on my browser. Now my post is gone.
To recap: 2004- not super for me. People died, my dad screwed some things up very badly, and I felt like I watched the whole year go down from the corner- detatched, numb. So, my first 'resolution' is to be more present in my life, a little more focused.
But there were ok things too. I got a new job (although the verdict isn't in on whether this goes in the 'good' or 'bad' category). I moved out of my parents house. And my 'niece'
Laney
keeps laughter in my life. And, I met the Buffistas! I got to jump on the Nilly Tour and meet Nilly, DXM, vw, Emily, Matt, Nora, Tom, Jen, Nutty, Theodosia, Jon, Frankenbuddha and...oh dear, I know I'm going to forget someone now. I am sorry in advance. Then, I got to grab coffee with Lee here in Maine, and I'm going to try very hard to save my pennies for either New Years Eve in Vegas, or F2F 2006. The Buffistas have been a very good thing this year.
Happy New Year,everybody!
Whee! I just got a Chrismakkuh card fro JavaCat, along with a coconut and puka shell necklace, in order to tempt me to Hawaii this spring.
I don't think I can make the Hawaii trip, since I already have too many places I want to go to in comparison to my vacation time, but I love the necklace, and it makes me think maybe next year.
2004
the good:
new job for me
new house
Nilly
parents visit out here
meeting our nephew,Hiro
the Bad
the loss of our Bert, the snuggliest cat in the world
Matt's foot problems
Matt's other health issues
Me being sick for a month and a half
we won't talk elections.
I would say the personal was basicly good. the bad things - like the loss of Bert was horrible , but the upside was that so many friends cared about our loss. Matt's foot was a big problem fo r most of the year - but it looks like he should be running in February - which should help with his other health issues. My giant healt annoyance seems to have moved me into naturally taking better care of myself.
My wishes for next year
a better job for Matt- one that gives him a little more time.
for me to actually make it back to school next year
forward motion on house projects
the US to behave in ways that surprise me
and health and prosperity for my friends and family
2004 was, for the most part, a good year for me.
First and foremost, I got married to a wonderful, silly guy. If you'd told me
10 years ago this was going to happen I'd have said "yeah, right", and five
years ago my reaction would have been to sigh wistfully. Still, we managed
to organize a wonderful wedding, and didn't kill any relatives in the process.
Other good things: Seeing two other pairs of friends getting married(one
pair I didn't expect at the beginning of this year). G and I are still employed at the same places we were at the beginning of the year. I
got to meet a whole bunch of Buffistas at the F2F, and I got to meet Nilly when she came through town.
Not so good stuff: Too many friends are unemployed or underemployed.
One friend lost a baby she was so happy about. The political situation.
2005 has a lot for me to look forward to. A new niece or nephew, come June. Buying a larger place. Maybe starting a family.(There's a few things that need to be settled before that can happen) Another pair of
friends getting married.(They were originally planning to get married this
past October, but house renovations pre-empted those plans)
Happy New Year, Buffistas!
2004 has been, like all of the naughts so far, full of both good and bad, in equally life-changing measure. I'm not even going to try to cover all of it. But it began with my mother's death and the challenges of motherhood, and ended with buying a home and the prospect of my second child. Most of the milestones along the way had to do with my daughter, Frances, who is far more wonderful than I ever dared to hope.
I think what I'm learning is that life is, more than I ever thought, what you make of it, both good and bad.
I came out to my sister this year. That's one of the hardest things I've ever done. She didn't speak to me for a week, but the crappiness of that week was so worth it when she told me she loved me no matter what. She just wished I'd told her sooner.
Yay for the happy ending, and for your courage and wisdom to be yourself around those you love, SA.
...
2004 for me?
Let's see...It was better than 2003 was, for our family. I can say that, hands down. When compared to much of the world, we want for nothing we need, and little (save extreme luxury) that we would like to have.
The world is a scary place, but I think that has always been true.
I just know it was the only year in my lifetime about which I can say that the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, never mind that they swept the Cardinals in the doing, and came back after being down three games to the New York Yankees in the ALCS, in order to do so. My father never had that.
Shallow? Sure. Sometimes.
