Wrapping up 2015: To start with the obvious, ita. And just a few days before ita, I lost another online friend in a sadly similar way. It was a crap beginning to the year. Bookending the year with losing Ginger is a sharp hot stab in the gut and I REALLY DON'T WANT A SECOND ONE TO CLOSE BOTH SETS OF PARENTHESES OKAY.

At the beginning of this year, I had a job that I thought I should've loved but was burning me out hard. I got fired from there (and my ONLY lasting regret was that I didn't recognize the burnout before it got bad enough to affect client work). I pulled away hard from a tech community that went way beyond just that job in order to recover.

I found a job I love much more, where I learn a lot all the time, where I can step into leadership (holy shit why do they listen to me??), where I genuinely love the people, but it just barely touches at the edges the network I built and collaborated with for the last umpty years. Stepping away from 5 or 6 years of work ties is like 3 whole careers in tech-dog years. On the plus side, making that move got me back into the textile love. This place is one of the few places that still remembers the *last* time I was into absurd and extravagant sewing projects, even if I haven't fit into that corset in years, and that's something I love about here.

I turned 45, got out of credit card debt, bought a new and not remotely base-level car. I still don't know how to adult.

I'm currently stressing like whoa about the holidays, because this is the year we go to the racist uncle-in-law's place for the uncomfortable family gathering that everyone kinda hates but doesn't ever, ever say it. Because white people in the midwest.

I wish you all love, glitter, and gingham. Which I'm tempted to try to weave but I don't have enough pink and white yarn right now.

Good to see you, Stephanie. I was thinking about you the other day.

Oh, Stephanie, I'm so sorry. I'm glad for all the good stuff, though!

Amych, good for you on the career shift. And I feel you on the white people in the midwest holidays. I got through mine this year and only had to leave the room twice because of racist jokes! Yay! And once for a false alarm, but honestly, it was getting to my people limit anyway, so probably for the best.

It's good to see you, Stephanie, and to hear about so many big things happening in your life. I'm sorry about the miscarriage, though it sounds like you've made your peace with it, and it's really good to know that you have so much love and support in your life. I have loved seeing pictures of you and your boyfriend on FB, and am glad that you're feeling good and happy about him.

amych, I'm so happy for you that you started working at [redacted]! It seems like a great fit for you, and I'm glad that it's been treating you well.

Stephanie, I'm sad for your loss. It's good to see you here, and though I don't say it much on Facebook I am very proud of the work you do. Thinking of what you do always reminds me that the multitudes of immigrants and refugees are not faceless masses but human beings and human families.

amych, good luck at that holiday gathering.

I wish you all love, glitter, and gingham.

Oh, that's wonderful, I'm gonna steal. So much love for your textile adventures, amych!

Stephanie, I'm sorry about the miscarriage. I also love keeping up with you, and seeing your kids grow, on FB. I'm so glad your relationship's going well and bringing you happiness! And, thank you, for the work you do.

I've got to write a year wrap-up because it's been a pretty big year of change for me. But am too tired right now.

Stephanie, so sorry to hear that. But so good to see your pixels here! And glad that even if this moment is tough, you've got good things and people in your life.

Amych, this year "racist uncle" will be played by my brother. Joy. (Also there was an article in slate I think the other day asking why is it always the "uncle" who is racist? And it made me laugh a little)

Stephanie, I am so sorry, but you are also such an amazing person. You've weathered so many ups and downs with quiet strength and fortitude and just... wow. I am glad that there are so many blessings in your life, even though I know you must be mourning this loss.

What Burrell said. I'm sorry for your loss but glad to see that there are bright spaces too.