2011: Peace and Mercy

Mercy abounds!

Dear friendly 2011,

Welcome! I am so glad to see you. Seriously, 2011! No offense to 2010, but it offered very little mercy.  What a sucky challenging year! We had some bright moments--yes indeedy--but mostly those were experienced as we began to see you come on to the horizon.  I'm not going to list the major issues events of 2010 (things like the onset of empty-nest total maladjustment disorder--TMD, prolific hot flashes that triggered spontaneous, profuse swearing and sweating worthy of reality tv, putting the house on the market, giving up and taking the house off the market, temporarily losing sense of humor, getting pink-slipped,  getting unpink-slipped, thinking the unpinked slip was a good thing, engaging in prolonged fake-smiling when it became ridiculously clear that the unpinked slip wasn't a good thing, moving three daughters and three bedrooms to three different addresses, saying goodbye to some bad habits and hello to even worse) but suffice it to say, dear and friendly 2011, you are quite welcome here and you have come at exactly the right time.

As 2010 was screwing with me working its way towards its conclusion, I could already see promise in your face, 2011. I made a few decisions to cooperate with you upon your arrival here. These are worth listing.

1. Cherish friends and family.  Turns out they tolerate anything in italics with patience and love.
2. Get a dog.
3. Be the one who issues the pink slip.
4. Exercise.
5. Help others.

Already, 2011, you have exceeded my expectations.  Mercy and I--beginners together-- have taken a running leap and I know you will catch us in your arms.  You are going to be a very good year--one of great change and even greater peace. We believe that.  In fact, we will sleep meditate on that theme.

Peace and Mercy