Back to Reality

Well, holiday vacation is over and I have to admit that I loved every second of it. For 10 days, I did very little work. Yea, I wrote a passage and a few bios, but there were ENTIRE DAYS I did not write a single professional word. Instead, I read books (8 of them!), wrote letters, watched movies, hung out with the kids, went Goodwill shopping with family and friends (you know who you are, Susan), got stuck in snowdrifts countless times and even took a nap here and there. It was glorious. The time off was the best gift I could have gotten.

Now, of course, it is back to the "real world". Emails will change from "Merry Christmas" and "Thanks for the card" to "When are you turning this in?" and "We need you to make some changes". It had to happen, of course, but that doesn't mean I have to be ready for it, right? I am hoping to have at least a week back before the first unhappy email comes my way, but we will see.

Although it was an odd Christmas with the weather and money and such, it was also one of the nicest ones. We couldn't go out as much so we stayed home together. We couldn't spend as much so we appreciated everything we were able to give and recieve. I don't think I have ever felt such gratitude for the family I have. That was another gift.

So, a new year begins. I look ahead and I realize that this year: Jasmine turns 25, Nicole 19, Caspian 16 and Coryn 13. (Three teenagers at one time! What was I thinking?) I turn (gulp) 50. Joseph turns 57 next week. In the last month I was asked if I qualified for the senior discount at Goodwill (55) and if Coryn was my GRANDSON. These moments keep me extremely humble.
We will celebrate 27 years together this fall. I will hit 200 books published. It is the first year without my mom and dad. It is our 8th year in Oregon. And most of all, time flies by too quickly, as always.

Here's to a wonderful 2009 for everyone. That's a reality we can all live with.