Christmas and New Years

It is January 2012.  Christmas has come and gone.  A good Christmas other than the fact I worked Christmas day and was pulled to the geriatric unit.  At least my patients knew it was Christmas.  The regular staff seemed to all be pretty cheery but I just found it depressing.  I think it is because I worry I will end up like those patients. 

We had our Christmas dinner Christmas eve.  Quiet day with Kate and Charlie and Rachel and a friend of Kate's.  Good food.  Good company.  We missed Judy who stayed in Springfield with her boyfriend.

This is sounding like a Christmas letter and that is not my intent.  I actually almost got into the Christmas spirit.  I bought a few gifts.  No decorating.  But I did have two experiences that made the season a little brighter.  I was walking home from the El and a man started talking to me.  Apparently he is a roofer and  it had started to rain so he was getting off early.  He was so excited because his whole family was in town and now he was going to get to start the holiday.  His younger sister who he said he hadn't seen in 10 years was going to be at his house.  His joy was contagious.  A day later I was waiting for a bus and the man next to me told me he was going to be flying to Mexico later on that evening to surprise his parents for the holidays.  He was also very excited.  It is nice to see  people enjoying the season.  It is nice to see happy people.

The New Year is always a time I look forward to.  A chance to renew myself, to set goals for myself, better myself.  2011 was not a bad year.  I had new experiences, I made new friends.  But I also feel that I have done some purging of late helping me to get ready for things to come.  My roommate is moving out and I am looking forward to living by myself again.  I've ended a couple of relationships that weren't working.  I just canceled my cable.  I've started a new movie group.  I am continuing my old wine and dine group.  I am looking for more groups that better fit my needs. 

I would apologize for this ridiculous blog except I promised my kids I'd quit the self deprecating behavior.  So I hope all of my readers had a great Christmas and are going to enjoy the new year as much as I am.