Monday, January 01, 2007

happy new year 2007!

Welcome to 2007! You know you've really become a west coaster when, while getting ready to head to the beach on the first morning of the new year, you look out the window and hear yourself think 'it's not raining THAT hard' and continue to get ready. My initial plan for the photo above also included a festive sparkler but the wind and the rain really picked up down by the water and I couldn't get the crazy thing to light.

So far 2007 has been pretty great. I got to welcome in the new year last night exactly how I wanted to (luxury) and now so far this year I've been to the beach, finished a good book, and indulged in a latte and a few chocolate dipped strawberries left over from last night. It's an unsustainable lifestyle to be sure, but well worthy of reveling in in the hours of vacation that remain.

It's impossible to escape the looking back this time of year. For myself I have to be careful not to wallow in it. But looking back over 2006, it was a good year. It wasn't 365 days of roses and rainbows, but it's in the past now and we choose the filter through which we view our own history. I choose to smile. Some of the good was fantastic and some of the bad truly sucked but I got to spend time with the people I love and I never went hungry. I have enjoyable and interesting work and somewhere to come home to at the end of the day. It may not technically be Xanadu, but I'd wager it's pretty darn close.

2 comments:

DAve and JAnie said...

Oh claire, but a fantastic beach adventure you embarked on. Experience is everything in my book, and you sure had a great morning to log away in your memory.
We are having a relaxed saturday so far with lots of play, lattes and pizza for lunch. Dave just got home from work...yup saturday morning work... and we will have lunch together!
Hope you have a good weekend, i imagine we will be calling you from your parents house just to say hello
Love Janie

dr riptide said...

Thanks for the welcome!

Claire, my 'west coast' experience wasn't like that. We did have one year of major rain, but mostly sunshine. Oh yes, and clear skies with gorgeous sunsets and starry skies! As I cling to 'west coaster' as part of my identity, I should probably specify SoCal West Coaster.

So... what did your 'luxury' entrance into the New Year entail? Sounds great if it included chocolate dipped strawberries!

You know, I haven't even taken the time to look over this past year. I need a moment of space, some wine, and a few chocolate dipped strawberries myself to make that happen. At a quick glance I'm amazed at where we were and where we are now. I'm amazed at how much has changed in our lives, and so pleased at how my marriage has grown so wonderfully. Mark might have been a rotten brother, but he's turned into an excellent husband!

Please share any life-wisdom you might have learned from this past year. I'll do the same after I think about it.

Love,

Rachel