What shall we call you, year 2010?
Sometime in February or March of last year, I dubbed 2009 the "year of closure". The naming occured for a variety of reasons. For one, the year blessed me with the opportunity to renew some seemingly lost relationships, and come to a peace with specific events of the last decade that had continued to have an unsettling effect on me. A weight lifted that I was not fully aware I was carrying. Thank you to all of you- though you may not know who you are.
Home ownership opened a brand new arena for self-discovery both personally and in our marriage. It prompted the start of this blog! yaye! We learned there are always Joneses to keep up with, and that it's really not worth it to try (but I will win that backyard contest that no one but us knows we are having! mwahahahaha!). Throughout it all, the most important relationship to consistently re-evaluate and work to improve is our own. We are lucky enough to be able to have those conversations with eachother- both difficult and rewarding (and oooohhhhhh we had them in 2009!)
In 09 we witnessed weddings, divorces, and the birth of more than 1 baby. We were greatly inspired by, as well as occasionally disappointed in, the actions of those we love. Reggie also lost a dear high school friend suddenly (whose birthday is coincidentally today- happy birthday Sarah). I dont know how to put any of it into a larger perspective except to say that I think these are the experiences that go beneath our bones and in breaking them, build us even more.
So, here I sit, in "frigid" Miami, Florida (the high today only stretching towards 60 has caused the locals to break out the parkas- hahahaha!) looking ahead to the next 12 months. While never one for traditional resolutions, I always love January and September (new year-year & new school-year)as the times of year that really open themselves up for reflection and new goals.
Reg and I rang in the new year with my oldest and dearest friend, Lauren. She hosted a lovely shindig at her Miami Beach apartment. It was a wonderful NYE- not rowdy, not drunken, but left us with a bucket full of memories. Lauren and I have spent 4 of the last 10 new years eves together (a record beat only by Reggie!), and it is always a good time that fuels jokes and stories for years afterwards. Our favorite part of the party- "recovery day"- we spent not hungover, but still excusably on the couch, eating poached egg sandwiches courtesy of Reg, alternating between bad bowl games and even worse reality TV. We had our tarot cards read with scary results. Mine basically said that I am in "an environment that is not in harmony with who I really am, and is oppressing me, but that the only thing I can do is stick with it and it will be much better with success and satisfaction in a few years." ummm, Hi PhD!!!! creepy huh?
A true vacation, these few days "off" (still answering work emails on the old crackberry, of course) gave Reg and I the opportunity to think about where to go and what to do in 2010.
1- homemade! this means more cooking and freezing, less take-out and pre-frozen. We have gotten really good at this in 09, but could be even better. Our garden plans are expanding, courtesy of some excellent Christmas gifts from wife to husband (if I do say so myself!) I also want to continue my quest in becoming a "baketress" and I hope you friends & neighbors will appreciate the handouts! We will expand this homemade theme to products, as well. I started making homemade natural body and face scrubs last month. I want to continue creating my "potions" and playing with new ingredients and treatments. friends! get ready to sample!
2. less is more! goes with the homemade theme. Why do we have a HUGE closet and 3 dressers, yet every goshdarn photo we have of ourselves, we're wearing one of 4 outfits? No holds barred donations and less shopping is in our future. Believe it or not (well, if you know us, you know this is very true) Reg is the bigger shopper than I am! The same goes for cleaning supplies. We long ago switched to buying eco-friendly home products, for twice the price of "regular", and why? a little vinegar, a little lemon juice and voila! counter cleaner! Sorry METHOD and 7th Generation, you will not claim my wallet anymore this year!
3. more is more! when it comes to food. My favorite homemaker (and full time student, wife, therapist) friend, Leah, always says we should expect to actually pay for good food. This is true. We are absolutely omnivores (reg more than me, I admit) but a little more time with the food we eat could go a long way, karmically. On our table, I'd like to see even more responsible shopping, and a bit more vegetarianism (this piggybacks on an 09 resoluton of meatless mondays that never materialized. ah well!). You are what you eat, right?
4. RELAXATION! Get off of racetrack, merry-go-round, rollercoaster, etc etc etc, insert metaphor here. It is not worth it. I want remember making pancakes on Sunday mornings, or drinking coffee in sundresses on afternoons with friends, NOT working overtime, or answering emails on vacation (yes, I know, I have violated this resolution already. damn.) There is no first place prize. We have to slow down or we will drive ourselves crazy and wonder- what the &*%^ was that all about??
5. YOU! in accordance with #4, we need to see more of our friends and family. You are not far away (are you reading this?). And neither are we (I am reading this, so here is my own reminder!). The world is small, why don't wee see eachother more often? We have a guestroom, and Im sure you do, too (or at least a couch!) Let's stop fooling around and make some plans! We spent a day with Reggie's extended family here in Miami and it was wonderful! We are all guilty of too many e-visits and too little face time! This is a resolution for everyone who may read this as well as this writer. Hold me to it, and expect me to do the same to you!
Welcome 2010, pull up a chair, let me get you a glass of wine. What would you like to talk about?
Happy New Year! Was 2009 a cluster f*** for everyone? Change change change. And as David Letterman always saids, "Making change is hard." Another weird parallel, I'm the only hippie in Beverly Hills. And someone stole all my persimmons and plums this year. I'll be sitting out back with some bad ass infared night vision goggles (like that bad ass necklace Amanda's wearing in the photo). REGGIE, when do I meet your elusive ass?
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