Looking Back on 2007

At the end of each year, I try to make a point to look back on things accomplished, things left undone, and things for which I’m eternally grateful. The past few years I haven’t had much to think about. I’m usually in the same dead-end, boring job; I’m still smoking; I’m still wishing that lovely man I just posted about would get on board with buying a house; I’m still in a desperate state to lose 10 more pounds.

To my surprise, looking back on 2007 has proven rather different. I have a new, exciting job that I love so much I can hardly contain myself. I’m still smoking, but have resolved to find the courage to quit, and actually spent Sunday through Wednesday smoke-free. The first time that’s happened since 2005. That lovely man has agreed to seriously look at homes for purchase. I’m still in a state to lose 10 more pounds, but I don’t care as much as I once did.

2007 will also forever be the first Christmas I wasn’t with my family (with the minor exception of the year my family spent Christmas on vacation, I met them and we celebrated a day late). I consider Dave’s family my family, but still it’s not quite the same. This Christmas was the first in my 29 years that I haven’t opened gifts with my brother. This was the first Christmas I didn’t have pancakes for breakfast. And, oddly enough, the first Christmas since college that I wasn’t hungover like someone on A&E's "Intervention." And, you know what? It was delightful. Maybe it was the clear headedness of sober thought or maybe it was the lack of chaos and easy-going attitude of Dave’s family.

Or maybe it’s because Dave is my family now, and it’s the first Christmas morning I’ve spent it with him.

It’s hard to say what made the time so delightful. But, next year, no matter what, I’m back to the pancakes, chaos and hangovers of Christmas with my brother, and I can hardly wait.

L.