December 5, 2009
Well as this year draws to a close it is preparing its exit by leaving a smile on my face and in my heart. Despite the setbacks, it's been a great year with blessings galore that I don't know would have been possible or perhaps I would not have been able to recognize them enough to appreciate them without going through the setbacks I've experienced.
It's all been personal, too. Nothing financial or material, although those things have come my way enough to allow me to live comfortably during my job search. But this has almost been a sabbatical. I've done some volunteer work, some professional writing and personal writing, started studying Spanish and spent more time improving my tech skills. I've gotten to spend meaningful time with family and friends. I'm in a personal relationship that has been full of surprises, laughter, passion and joy. It's one of the blessings that I might not have realized had I a full time job with the attendant stress that would have made it difficult for me to be thoughtful about the relationship and the person.
I've gotten to do some things and talk to some people about issues that previously I was restrained due to the nature of my profession. I still have opportunities in that regard which I think will be huge fun and really get me involved in my community and activism.
One of the greatest things was the two-week trip that my daughter and I took to Australia! OMG! It was super, stupendous, marvelous, wonderful, awesome, way cool! The two of us began to plan this trip around this time last year. Then when I was laid off in April 2008, I told my daughter that I probably should not spend that kind of money. She want away and then came back in about two weeks and said, "I can do this, mom, and I'm going to. There's no one else in the world that I would want to go to Australia with, much less, take, so I want to do this. You've done so much for me. I know you feel weird but just get over it."
It was great. We had so much fun together, as we usually do when we travel. There were a few tense moments but we worked them out, another great part of our relationship; we can work out stuff.
She fell in love with the place and is exploring the possibility of returning there to work as a nurse. She just loved Carins and while I would miss the hell out of her, I guess if she goes, she goes. If she decides to stay, I'm going with her. but if she is just visiting or living for a short time, like six months maybe, I'll handle it and it would be a great reason to get back on a plane for another 15 hours (shout out to Klonopin sp? for helping me make the trip in an unconscious state).
Oddly enough, as broke as I am, I've done more traveling this year than I have in years, probably 20 years. I'm getting ready to go to Vegas at the end of the month for my second trip to that wild city. My "relationship," is taking me back. We had a great time together when we went in October and he wants to go back. He loves Vegas, has been 23 times, so he wants to go. And since we are seeing each other and having a good time, he wants to go with me.
I really like this guy. Of course he's very different from me, which in a way is good, but we do differ on some important issues (politics Geo Bush versus anyone with a D in front of their name). But we've avoided serious conflict and I like him so much that I can cope with these things. After all look at those two famous political speech writer/campaign workers from opposite camps that are happily (we think) married, look at Shawn k-Lee and John Lee, definitely happily married and also differing in the same way, and there was another couple that popped into my mind but popped out now, I know it will come back. Besides, I'm not planning on marriage. Right now I'm just happy to be in such a good relationship. He's really generous, sweet, kind, thoughtful, sexy, a hottie, funny, and intelligent. It's just a blessing at this stage of life to get all of that in one package. So what if he's misguided in his politics. I can live with it.
I'm getting in pretty good shape, again at this stage in my life, and people are commenting on how I look. I think being in love has a lot to do with it; if you are happy it shows and makes you look better. I think how I feel has a lot to do with how I look.
I feel great, most of the time.
I believe that I'm going to have a job starting next year, even one that I'll be relatively happy at, and I think my life will move forward.
My relationship is planning future events, such as being glad that his swat trip to FBI headquarters has been changed from Valentine's day to another week. He's already assuming that we will be together and that he'd rather be with me than SWAT, LOL. thank goodness he prefers me to the police for the holiday :) I like that he's planning and assuming that we will be together. It makes me feel good.
Back to work on my story for the Pulse.