It occurred to me that I should keep a little journal of the odd moments throughout the year so I could consult it as I sit down to write my annual epistle. Imagine my mortification when I realized there were no odd moments. I didn't go anywhere out of the ordinary, didn't do anything of particular note, and didn't have anything done to me (not necessarily a bad thing).
Oh, I had my gall bladder out in June, but I slept through that.
It's not that important things didn't happen in 2008, but they're more in the way of general observation and self-awareness:
I relearned the lesson of relativity. How long I'm willing to stand in line depends on whether I'm waiting to vote or waiting for a price check at Wal*Mart.
I learned that calculating retirement age is a complicated mathematical process based on one's current age, adding the value of the dollar against the Euro, yen, and the price of tea in China, subtracting what social security is promising now versus the best guesstimate of what will really be there, factoring in deflation, dividing by inflation, and finally multiplying that total by general confidence in the global stock markets. Me? I'm working forever. My golden parachute doesn't have a ripcord. Thank goodness I love what I do.
When baking Christmas cookies with your sister, it's imperative not to mention that you don't particularly care for a certain cookie known as the Chocolate Crinkle because when that's the only cookie that spreads across the cookie sheet like a cow patty at high noon, your sister automatically suspects sabotage. (I think it was the classic baking soda/baking powder error, but identifying the problem didn't win me any points.)
I drive myself crazy, but I'm considering hiring a chauffeur.
I practiced environmental consciousness this year by buying a set of those Debbie Meyer Green Bags so I can store my fresh fruit and vegetables twice - or even three - times as long before I throw them all out.
Walking outside on a bitterly cold day is still better than walking indoors on a treadmill. Biking outside on a hot and humid day is still better than…well, better than being dead, I guess.
When I thought I was going to have to send my iPod back to Apple for servicing, I sent an email apology ahead of time for my egregious taste in music and asked them not to hold it against me.
If you scream curse words at the voice-recognition answering system DirecTV uses for its valued customers sometimes the machine will disconnect you. This also happens to valued customers of Verizon.
Saying hello to strangers gives them a moment's pause, but it makes you a person to them.
It used to be that people walking around talking to no one in particular were diagnosed schizophrenic. Blue-tooth technology for cell phones has changed that: now they're diagnosed self-important.
I hope you and your family enjoyed a year with as few bumps in the road as I did, and that if you have to have your gall bladder out, you're prescribed the really good drugs and have loved ones around to make sure you get them.
Jo
