Good Morning!
Here we are on New Year's Day 2010. It's easy for me to be optimistic today, I mean, heck - it's the first morning of the new year! Who wouldn't be optimistic and just down right giddy about the possibilities of what may come our way?
2009 was tough - and very tough for me, as I'm positive it's been for most Americans and the world. Being unemployed has given me opportunities though, that I wouldn't normally have had, and its taken them away too. I've had an opportunity to become more involved in my community and my local library - that's right - VOLUNTEER work. I've had a chance to do a little more sailing with my husband, to cut more gemstones (one of my hobbies) to TOTALLY organize every drawer, closet and box stored in our house and garage. My house is SPOTLESS. I've worked in the yard and had a great tan this summer - something I almost NEVER get to have because of work. I've had a chance to help my parents more, spend time with them and help my dad around their house. I've also had the opportunity to rekindle some long-lost friendships; something I didn't realize how much I missed, and even meet up with them for lunch, dinner or just over a few cocktails and finally, I've had the opportunity to start a study program and try for my Internal Auditors Certification. What I'm the most proud of that happened in 2009, was that I found my dad's lost wedding band using a metal detector on every scoop of black-pudding compost in the compost bin where he lost it. It hasn't been off of his finger in 47 years, but lost it in 2008 while adding leaves to the compost bin. We both cried when we found it. That was one of my best days.
On the flip side, I've applied for job after job (hundreds) with no luck and only had about 3 interviews the whole year. I've attended all of the workshops given by my local unemployment office, rewritten my resume about 5 times, cried when I received the "thanks but no thanks" emails or calls about jobs, I've worried about our mortgage payment, struggled to pay for getting our piece-of-crap cars fixed, stopped getting my hair colored at the salon and instead, opted for the $10 box of color at the drug store. I don't get my nails done anymore and I've stopped using the most expensive makeup, buying what I can find at Walmart. We started buying our groceries at discount grocery stores, like Aldi and Walmart. I'm conscious about the amount of time I'm on the phone and stopped shopping except for what we have to have.
In the bigger picture, we all saw things that added to our sadness and upped the red mark on our 'worry meter'. The death of Ted Kennedy, who was an icon whether or not you liked him or what he fought for - he changed history several times in our country; we watched helplessly as our economy went from bad to worse, which I believe, it will be years before we really see recovery. We protested as a nation against reckless spending by Congress in the Tea Party Protests. We watched in real time the unfolding of a global warming conspiracy that I think, will push us backwards in global "Save The Planet" efforts; speaking of which - no matter what the data is or was, shouldn't we still try to stop global warming and save our planet? Or - will the world use this as an excuse to be lazy for a little while longer?
We ALL worry about health care and frankly, I'm so confused right now about what to stand behind I want to craw in a hole! I think it'd be great to have health care for everybody, but the price on our taxes may be too much - at least for us right now.
What about the unrest in Iran? Too much to discuss on that topic - but I'm VERY uneasy and worried. The anti-government movement with the potential for a revolutionary revolt against harsh government forces and the Mullah oligarchy makes me hope for their democracy and pray for no more bloodshed. Moreover - I pray for OUR troops and hope and pray for their safe return, for the end of the war, and pray for the families whose loved ones will not be returning.
AND - what about that dork with the bomb in his underwear?! What that did for me was to RE-reinforce the thought that perphaps while we're all worried about our economic status, we need to pay attention and not forget, that there are those in this world who are trying to kill us and bring even more terror to our nation.
Businesses that have been around for-ever went under this year. S&K Men's Warehouse, Carolina Interiors, Ukrop's, Circuit City and many, many others.
We lost movie stars such as David Carradine, Patrick Swayze, Billy Mays, Farah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Josephine Cottle, Ed McMahon, Karl Malden, Al Matino, Vic Chesnutt, James Gurley, Arnold Stang, and of course, Brittany Murphy. One of the saddest deaths in 2009 to me, is of Kim Peek. If you don't remember him, he was the inspiration for "Rain Man". He was what is known as a "Megasavant". He had a photographic and/or eidetic memory. He has always been an inspiration to me, and served as a humble reminder that one can accomplish many things in a lifetime, with or without disabilities. I always admired his father, who has taken care of him for all of these years tirelessly and with the utmost dedication. I have to admit, that for years, I've secretly worried about who would take care of Kim after the death of his father... For some reason, I believe that his father will follow his son shortly due to the grief of the loss of his beloved son. I hope I'm wrong. Last but not least - Oral Roberts.
There are lots of bad things that happened in 2009, and there are lots of good things that happened too. For me, my unemployment ran out just before Christmas. I'm thankful that I had as much help as I did. Say what you want to, but under the Obama Administration, I had more help than I ever would have had before and for that, I am thankful. I interviewed for a small paying job just before Christmas. I think I have a good chance at getting it - time will tell and I'll let you know! It's not at all what I was making before I lost my job, but it's a J.O.B. and it'll be in a field that I really love - photography. My husband and I will take a vacation with the money we saved in 2009 soon and we'll be joined by 2 other couples that are good friends of ours and I'm looking forward to that. Money is tight, and getting tighter - but for right now, we're able to pay the bills and the mortgage. My parents, although they're older and have their health problems, are alive and doing alright. My mother-in-law, who is 84 years old is doing alright too. I have a great husband that I love very much and I know that despite all that's happened in this world last year, that 2010 offers HOPE. Hope for new jobs, a better economy, and peace.
So...yeah...at the moment anyway, I'll keep an Optimistic Calendar, and who knows ! Maybe somebody will even read my blog. (smile)
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