Goodness, Deena. That's a lot of a lot. I hope 2019 is less stressful for you and yours.

That is a huge pile of stuff, Deena, but as you tell about each thing, then tell us how you explored it more deeply and how things evolved toward solutions, it's almost like "Light broke, a choir sang chords of hope" so that's the impression I'm left with. It was pretty deep, and you all climbed out, boosting each other along all the way.

I wish you a more gentle climb, from here.

Deena, you are a fiercely strong and beautiful creature, just to have held it all together through all that.

But can I also say, I died laughing at all of you inevitably ending up with the same buffista spirit-baby therapist?

I love you guys. One of the things I did in therapy was toss out these ill-considered ideas and then figure out I didn't really believe them. I said I don't trust women...and she had me make a list of women I admire, and I could only think of three...until my next session with her when I started telling her about the imaginary friends in the box, and cried a bit over Ginger and ita, and she was so impressed with you all, and so was I all over again . . . and here I am. Aware that there are a lot of shitty people in the world, gender not important, but ya'll are not them.

Fred, I read your post and was glad that wasn't my year, so...perspective, I guess. You're such a great person and it made me really angry to read about you being shit on. I want to hug you and feed you and watch a movie together.

So, um, other stuff...Greg's been out of work since his car accident, 3 years now. There really isn't much in the way of work here. He's doing some online stuff now and that's picking up for him. I'm working part time as a proofreader for my court reporter sister and her boss. So, things are tight, but manageable. My health is weird but I have a good doctor (I'm reminded of Bev's note to my "poopyhead" doctors in Ohio) and things are going to be good this year. Christmas was really lovely and we're looking forward to what comes next.

I've totally forgotten how to denote actions or I'd curtsy.

Dear Secret Santa, your gift finally arrived yesterday. Thank you! I love the pens (I've already started journalling and plotting with them) and the pin.

Oh, Deena. So many hugs. I thought of you the other day, when Alexandra found the worry doll you made for me so many years ago, and I told her all about you and my lovely online family. She loves that doll so much now.

I've missed seeing your pixels, Deena. So much love to you and all of yours.

Oh, that's lovely news, juliana. Thank you for telling me.

Thanks Amy. Love right back to you.

{{{Deena and family}}}

I hope that this new year brings more good stuff to Buffistas, and knocks off the bad stuff.

It's so good to see you around again, Deena.

Much love and support for everyone going through difficult times. And cheers for all the progress that has been made.

Having spent most of my adult life as a freelancer, I never really had the time and resources for travel that wasn't for work. Now that I have a salary and paid vacations I was finally able to go someplace I couldn't drive, and Lee helped me go big with our trip to the Cook Islands last spring. What a fantastic experience that was! And then I decided to take a 4-day weekend in NOLA for my 50th b-day and got to see our locals there. So here's to making travel a more frequent part of my life!