Happy New Year's Everyone!
I can remember being 11, keeping a diary as most girls that age do. Mom had just explained the facts of life, and had told me to keep a log of my periods, to be sure every month I was regular, and thus "okay".
I recall carefully making pages and pages of charts, listing all 12 months of every year from then until the year 2005. I remember doing the math and thinking, wow, I won't need to list them for then, by then I'll be ancient, in my 40's and most likely even DEAD!
*laughs*
I don't know what happened to that journal, but if I could tell that child, (Hey! I can tell her! She lives in me!) I'd say, "Kiddo, you lived, you're older, not ancient, and for the most part things turned out alright."
I am not the child psychologist I remember wanting to be back then, but at least I'm not the "dead" I figured I'd be by now.
2005.
I've seen a lot of changes in the world, and in my life. I got to see the mass production of VCR's, Microwave Ovens, Cordless Telephones, and Pleather, among hundreds of other things.
I saw the fall of family values and the rise of bad manners. Children shooting children in their schools, a huge surge of drug and alcohol abuse, the Catholic church get in trouble for harbouring so many child molesting priests.
I've seen a busy, seemingly selfish world stop and help each other time and again through man made tragedies such as 9-11 and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and the tsunami in Asia.
On a more personal level, I've seen one of my daughters rise up and be strong and self sufficient. I've downright laughed (can we say "cackled") with pride while watching the girl make up her mind that she's not putting up with any man's shit, (or anyone's for that matter) and mold her life to suit herself and her son, and I pray, PRAY that she continues to do so, and live life on her terms, and not be miserable while trying to please someone who can't be pleased, or appease his family, feed his dogs, or keep his underwear and pick up truck(s) clean.
I've seen my other daughter begin to reap nice benefits and recognition at her job. She's going to have another baby in early summer of this year. Did I tell you I get to name it? I do! I've seen her grow as a person, taking good care of herself, she has the prettiest long hair, her nails are beautifully manicured, and she has the most gorgeous house of anyone in the whole family.
I got to see my grandchildren thrive and grow...and what's more, I got to spend a lot of time with them, learning who they are, and what they like and don't like.
I've seen my nephew grow and do well in school, he's smart as a tack!
I watched as my sister became self reliant, and what's more, I got to see a shy, insecure woman turn into a beautiful and confident person, who just radiates contentment with her life.
I've watched my parents prosper and live happily having both their health for the most part and the finances to enjoy themselves and their family.
2004 was a hard year for a lot of people, but it was a pretty damned good year for me.
2005, Lord, let it be kind to all of us.