( continues...) kids. I've got wonderful, witty, supportive friends, both in RL and of the invisible sort (some of which went from invisible to RL, which rocked). This year, the single biggest positive in the friends category had to be coming out of perpetual lurk around here and becoming an active Buffista.
The only downside personally has been the deterioration of my relationship with my mother. She's always been difficult and contrary and choosing to do whatever she wants, but I've pretty much always been able to talk to her. However, her rekindling a relationship with my father after thirty years and a contentious divorce has been too much for me. She was so giddy with the flush of renewed lurve that she tried to cram it down my throat, eager to have me embrace it with open arms and validate for her how wonderful it was. Which I can't do. I'm also furious with the fact that she went against my express wishes where my kids were concerned and allowed Nate to meet my father without my being there-- and dismissed my anger as me overreacting. I can't do anything about their relationship other than avoid it as much as possible. It sucks, but it's just about the only thing I can do, since talking to her is pretty much impossible.
I'm not sure what 09 is going to bring. I'm cautiously optimistic, but beyond that, I'm not going to hope for any concrete goals other than I'm going to keep writing and spending time with my family. After that, let the chips fall where they may.