2010 Round Up

I am sitting at my our desk in the newly reorganized office that my husband and I, and now the “HeroClix Gaming Center” share. If you view the overall square footage that is actually used for office space it is shockingly small. You must account for the real estate taken up by comic book storage,various collections of super hero collectibles* and the new gaming table. A week ago at least I had my own desk. But now that’s a thing of the past. I am inclined to hang a sign over the door of the “office” that says, Jim’s Comics & Collectibles or something like that. It would be more honest.

At this moment Jim is reading comic books (you could probably see that one coming). Ione is at a friend’s house. Thelonious is skulking** about complaining of boredom but avoiding any of my suggestions to alleviate it. The Wadells have gone to Longview for the night to be with family. We can’t seem to find a babysitter to watch our kids or friends to hang out with for the evening. So I have decided to write. In the tiny corner of the comic book shop. Where I expect one day soon to find that my computer has been replaced by a cash register.

If I can stop talking about my ever-shrinking office I intend to write about the highlights (and maybe a few lowlights) of our year. We did not send a Christmas card or letter out this year (or last year for that matter) so this will have to suffice.

My personal highlight  was running a half-marathon in September. I ran it to support family friends that lost their 18-year-old son to murder in January. I was one of many who ran with them and it almost didn’t happen because of a hip injury. But in the end I ran it and I’ll forever be glad I did. We are thinking of the Wood family and wishing them God’s grace as they approach the one-year anniversary of Franklin’s death.

Another highlight is that Jim is in his last year of grad school and is on schedule to graduate in June. I guess that will technically be a highlight of 2011 but I thought I should start sharing my enthusiasm now. So that it can build. So that when June comes and he puts on those funny robes and walks up to receive his diploma for his Masters of Theology no one will be surprised when I fall on the floor and weep like a baby. For joy, of course.

In May we went so San Clemente to celebrate my maternal grandfather’s 90th birthday. The whole family came from various parts of the country and Pap was totally surprised that we were all there for him. It was a celebration of an amazing person who has lived an incredible life. We love  you, Pap!

There were, unfortunately, some very hard things this year. Franklin’s death. The Haiti earthquake. The Gulf oil spill. On a more personal level, our house flooded in January. It was a horrendous experience and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Not even Sarah Palin. After much time and effort and money the house got put back together, new carpet and sump pump included!

In a totally unrelated event we now we have friends living with us (the Wadells) who are really getting to enjoy our luxurious new carpet. So, I guess it all worked out for the best.

Another awful thing that led to a blessing was that our beloved dog, Momo, died in March. I can’t really write about it much or I’ll start to cry. And crying in front of a bunch of super heroes is just weird. I mean, they always look so badass just staring you in the face daring you to show weakness. Anyway… we really loved that dog. BUT, in happy news, our friend and dog breeder Terre gave us a new dog, Gizmo. Gizmo has been a wonderful addition to our family and has helped heal our broken hearts. And I’m happy to report that we have finally gotten his farts under control.

We had a lovely Christmas. It was only the second time in our 15 Christmases as a married couple that we did not spend the holiday traveling or hosting out-of-town company. It is the second time we’ve shared it with roommates. At this time of year people tend to ask about traditions. This always makes me a little nostalgic because growing up my family did basically the exact same thing every year. We lived in the same house, surrounded by the same extended family. We had our Christmas routine down. I loved that. But here in Seattle we have to improvise every year depending on where we are going or who is coming to town. But we have still managed to develop a few traditions that are less tied to the circumstances. So, I’ll end with a list of our favorites and hope that this post finds you and yours happy, healthy and ready for 2011.

• Jim wakes up the day after Thanksgiving and plays Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” loudly over and over again. This is our official start to the Christmas season
• I read David Sedaris’ “Holidays on Ice”. I don’t always make it through the entire collection but I always read ‘Santa Land Diaries’
• We watch “Elf” at least 3 or 4 times
• The kids open only one present on Christmas eve and it is always new pajamas
• The kids fight over opening the Advent calender because they claim they can’t remember whose turn it is
• We build a gingerbread house and Jim buys about five extra pounds of candy for eating decorating
• I sit at my computer and pour over the photos I’ve taken over the last year so that I can remember

*what is the collective noun for a group of super heroes? A League?

**did you know that the collective noun for a group of foxes is called a skulk?

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