Happy New Year
Monday, April 28, 2008 by ShawnieMac
Me, I woke up this morning, kissed my sweet husband on the back of the neck and said, "Happy New Year." We had an amazing trip to San Diego this past weekend. By late afternoon on the first day we arrived, we were sitting on the patio of the condo we rented in the heart of the Gaslamp district, toasting to our Anniversary Eve Eve Eve and I made the comment, "OK, so this is the best vacation ever so far and we've only been here a couple of hours!" It just was... exhaling, exhilarating, and exciting to be alive. Full of laughter and drinks and ersters and baseball and singing along with duelling pianos and staying out too late and eating ridiculously decadent foods at ridiculously decadent hours. Brimming with love and thanks and hope for the future. And on more than one occasion, the comment, "Who has THIS much fun together??" was made. It's been one hell of a year.
A year full of hugeness. Of obstacles and accomplishments. Of learning and growing. Of tears of joy and tears of sadness. Of hope and of fear. From the top of Mt. Whitney to Havasupai Falls, this year encompassed it all. Yesterday, on our first anniversary, I struggled to find the words to describe it all. The truth is, I don't think I'll ever find the words.
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. Henry David Thoreau
That's the thing. It's not that I haven't had my struggles and insecurities, that we haven't had disagreements, or instances of miscommunication. It's not that we have seen eye to eye on everything, but beyond, beneath, surrounding it all is the foundation of the most incredible experience I have ever known and the realization that so many people go throughout their entire lives never experiencing something like this. I realize that I am one of the fortunate few in that regard, that he and I both are. And, in realizing that fact, one thing that I can strive for is to always fiercely protect it. And, that I will.
So, it seemed appropriate to me that I wished him a Happy New Year. And yes, I made resolutions, but they are mine alone, and I am the only one to know whether or not I have kept them. I think sometimes, holding yourself accountable is the hardest thing of all.
Someone reminded me today not to forget to pray during the good times, too. I have no idea what God's grand plan is for me, and I think I'll always have my challenges with accepting organized religion, but that is a topic for another time and place. What I have learned is that whatever form this higher power takes on, I have a feeling someone, something is listening. (thank you)
Or maybe, just maybe, Greg was right all along. Way back in late July he told me that he liked to picture the situation as being like that scene from It’s a Wonderful Life where the heavens were being bombarded with prayers for George Bailey, except the prayers from so many were being said about me. The way he had it figured, God was going to get so annoyed hearing about me that he’d go ahead and grant the requests being made in those prayers and get on with business as usual.
Keep the noise coming...
Thank you for such a wonderfully inspiring post. Happy new year!