New Year

I'm in a profession that allows for a fresh start with new students late summer/early fall. Then, at this time of year, we have not only a new calendar year to "wipe the slate clean", but we also have a new semester coming up too. Many thoughts go through my mind at this time of year, most of them focusing on my personal life, as that's the part most connected to this change of a calendar page. So... with that... I present some thoughts related to the new year...

- My twenty-year class reunion is this year. I'm not sure if I want to go. My fifteen-year college reunion is also this year. Again, I'm not sure if I want to go. Why? I have no desire to revisit the same type of cliques that I see every day. On the other hand, perhaps it's a chance to reconnect and smash the fragile barriers that kept some of us apart from one another all those years ago. I just don't know.

- I actually dreaded the thought of New Year's Eve/Day this year. I knew it not only meant going back to work (and therefore away from little David), but it's one day closer to my brother leaving once more for Iraq. The thought makes me feel like someone slugged me in the stomach. I simply have to find a more productive way to view his deployment. I just don't know what that is yet.

- My creative side has been lacking lately. Usually, that's what brings me some calm and happiness. Lately, that just hasn't been the effect. I don't know why. I think I need to rethink and reprioritize the projects. Maybe I need to have less focus on me and more focus on doing things for others. I know that I want to send more cards to people (like Aunt Mary and others I don't see that often). Maybe that's how I can deal with this deployment too... I just don't know.

Wow. Seems like I have more questions than answers. Guess that's good to realize, instead of simply making a list of resolutions and not knowing exactly what the motives behind them are.