Not to be a downer, but I think most everyone would agree that this has been one hell of a year, with an emphasis on hell. There’s the obvious financial mess, which is affecting everyone (I know so many people who are unemployed or under-employed). And overall it’s been a tough year for me too. There’ve been plenty of high points but also lots of low ones, and my moods are often a stuggle. I grind through my days and do well but I’m hoping that 2009 will be somewhat better. Hey, Barack Obama is nearly in office – he’ll save us and no one will have to pay rent anymore ;-) (Really, not to be sarcastic, I do like the guy and hope the best for him and his administration.)

I was feeling sorry for myself the other day and a friend sent me a very nice email about taking things one day at a time. To paraphrase, there are two days we should never worry about: yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday is gone and completely out of our hands, and tomorrow is a huge unknown that will inevitably come, good or bad, regardless of our worry. Which leaves only today to concern ourselves with. “Any man can fight the battle of just one day. It is only when you and I have the burdens in those awful eternities—Yesterday and Tomorrow—that we break down.”

I try to be grateful, too, for what I do have, though I always forget and end up bitching and complaining anyway. One thing I’m thankful for is that my parents are still alive. I’m heading to Atlanta Christmas Eve to see them for a few days. It’ll be good to see them, and they’ll probably drive me crazy too, but that’s all part of it. I’ll still have email while I’m gone (though I’m bad at replying) and of course the updates will continue.

Here’s to a new and hopefully better year for everyone in 2009 and I hope everyone reading this has family and friends to be with over the holidays.