The Last Night of the Year...

Well, this is it, folks! At midnight tonight, 2004 will officially be over.

May she rest in peace.

After all the tragedy this year, I am kind of glad it is over. Five hurricanes hitting Florida, the huge tsunami killing all those people the other day, Mt St Helen's going up (okay, so that wasn't a tragedy, but it was kinda scary to me). So was the man that got shot outside the building, as well as Bush getting re-elected. (Welcome to my blog, Bob and Dianne!) Kind of scary/sad year.

But this year has also been good for me personally in a lot of ways. I left a bad relationship behind. I graduated. I got my first professional job. I had (an unintentional) five and a half months off. Franz and I solidified our relationship this year. We bought and lived in the condo. We remodeled the bathroom together. Buddy and Franz really took to each other this year. I think the high point of this year was my graduation party. I was humbled and astounded that so many people showed up to tell me that they cared about me. It just doesn't get any better than that. I still think about that day often.

Today will be spent doing laundry and getting ready for the big vacation to Florida. We are leaving on a jet plane tomorrow morning about 6:30am for two whole weeks of glorious fun in the sun. I get to see my family for the first week, and then Franz and I are going to be alone together for the second week down in the Keys. No cell phones or pagers going off telling me about the next crisis for two whole weeks. No DV victims either. No crying, no brusies and no emotional scars for two whole weeks. And no children that are going to probably grow up to be victims to worry about. Thank the Lord.

Hopefully we will get to swim with dolphins while we are there. And we are going to get to go to Disney for three whole days... staying in one of the hotels in the resort during that time. I am looking forward to weather that is sunny with highs in the 70's pretty much the whole time. God, it just doesn't get any better than that. You never appreciate the sunshine until you don't have it for a while.

So, as the question in my subconscious always asks, "Next?" What's next for 2005? Well, hopefully this is the year that a few really good things will happen. First and foremost, hopefully Franz and I will be married in 2005. I will also be doing my level best to lose the extra weight I have put on the last few years so I will be a stunning bride (as well as wife). And, if all goes as planned, my new husband and I- along with our very furry "son"- will be immigrating (emigrating?) to New Zealand. And I will continue to learn more about myself as well as my relationships, break old habits and create new (hopefully healthier) ones. And Buddy, Franz and I will be happy, stay in love as a new, young family and be healthy.

In short... more of the same.

Thanks to all of my readers for keeping an eye on me this year. I know that I haven't always posted as often as some of you would have liked, and I haven't always been as brief as others of you would have liked. (But, hey, if you want total control over a blog... go make your own!) Nonetheless, I am grateful for everyone who has made comments over the last few months, as well as the people who have just lurked around and read. Thank you!

I wish nothing but the best for all of us in the coming year!

Love to all,

Sherry