Around the Bend.

So here we come, full speed ahead, barreling toward the end of the year. I'm sitting out on the lanai, coffee to my left, lit cigarette to my right. Nope, not a whole lot has changed over the course of this year. Well, actually that's a lie. I should rephrase: "I haven't dropped many of the bad habits I thought I would this year." Better. More accurate.

2011 brought with it a new bundle of joy. Ahhh, looking back now on those first few months, life sure was peaceful. There isn't much in this life more relaxing than a baby in a swaddle, is there? You put them down, they stay there, they sleep. They eat, poop, hardly even cry if you can read their signs just so.

I finished out the spring semester of school, and went full steam ahead into the summer. Aidan graduated the first grade, life was grand. Richard started back at his old job, and I started making the inevitable plan to write my novel in November. It seemed like it was my destiny ... all the cards were in place.

We tied the knot at the end of September in a beautiful little ceremony at the courthouse, and started work on renovating the garage into a fourth bedroom. Aidan started 2nd grade, Caleb started motoring around the house: first on all fours, then on all twos while holding on. I made it 30,000 words into my novel before collapsing out of sheer boredom.

We lost some weight, then we gained it back. We had a terrific Thanksgiving here at our place, despite the turkey being a little dry. We got some chickens, I fell in love with an English Bulldog, and we kept working on the garage.

I quit smoking, then started again. We planned for a Christmas vacation, then we all got sick. That leads us to today, the present, time and date listed somewhere above for your convenience.

Life is truly good. I'm not going to chastise myself for my failed accomplishments, because I've learned from each of them. I made the mistake of saying, the other day, in the heat of one of Caleb's tantrums, that "I hate my life." I didn't mean it. It was a horrible, selfish thing to say. My youngest uncle suffered a debilitating stroke at the end of August. He's been a musician forever, and he doesn't have that now. Will he, in the future? No one is certain. I had the opportunity to attend one of his benefits to help raise money for his physical therapy, and it was amazing to see the support of the people he's impacted over the years. To say "I hate my life" is asinine. You don't know what you've got until it's gone.

For now, I will love my husband, hug my boys, and see what happens in 2012. Here's wishing you peace on Earth, goodwill toward men, and all of the above.