Normalcy

Hello 2011, goodbye 2010!

I tried several times to write a "summary of 2010" post, but I kept clearing the screen and starting over. I'm not sure what I want to remember from 2010. Usually, I'm the nostalgic type, who, when watching the ball drop in Times Square on New Year's Eve, surrounded by my family and/or friends, quickly reminisces over the past year and try to obtain full closure. I don't live with regret, rarely bask in my own successes, and really don't think worrying about the past is a good use of time. So I try to quickly say my goodbyes to the positives and negatives of the previous year and start over after the stroke of midnight. Each of us gets a new start today, to accomplish whatever is on the horizon.

At least that's how I usually look at New Year's Eve...an exciting culmination of a year and I wake up New Year's morning with optimism and thoughts on how I am going to position myself toward greater challenges and success.

This year was a bit different. While I've had a few tough years in my life, with family issues and deaths when I was younger, to my physical health issues a few years ago, I was actually very happy to see 2010 conclude. The year continued my loneliness and job-focused existence in Chicago and ushered in nine solid months of confusion, disarray, and chaos. Because of my hard work, I was offered a phenomenal job opportunity out here...but the price was high. We had to relocate, sell our first home, live in a teeny place, endure Jack's job uncertainty and unemployment, and adjust to his new job. Of course, the year concluded with the blessing of our beautiful house, but I decided that I'm ready for some normalcy.

Now, as soon as I go and call my life "normal," something odd will happen! But seriously, I need a year or two of just doing the daily grind. I need to commute every day, work hard, exercise regularly, keep up with school, plan vacations, etc.

Normalcy. Even if responsibilities continue to be added to my job...it will still be better than relocating, moving, selling, buying, etc. I guess I am ready for some routine.

I never thought I'd be saying I was ready for normalcy and routine, but I am.

So as I watched the ball drop in NYC last night, those were my thoughts. Goodbye to the stressful, chaotic year of 2010 and welcome to the routine, "normal" year of 2011.

Jack and I hosted a dinner party for a few of our new friends and after noshing all evening on gourmet cheeses, crusty French bread, stuffed olives, Italian salami, shrimp cocktail, and then eating a wonderful dinner of salmon. Great food, great wine, and great friends.

Here's to a great year of normalcy!