Dear Me!

Dear Me,

For lack of a gentler expletive, “Dear me!” is a mild way of describing our feelings about this past year. “Kiss my big, fish-belly white ass, 2007!” is a more accurate statement, in my humble opinion. I know we are wondering if this year will be any worse than the last. The answer is, of course, “most definitely” but not without a great deal of effort.

Perhaps, by writing our goals for this next year, we can suppress any bold attempts by Father Time, Corporate America and The Man to screw up 2008.

First and foremost, no one dies for the next twelve months! No family members, no friends, no pets. Nobody! We can renegotiate for 2009 but last year had more than its fair share of sadness, with plenty left over to last through 2008. What happened in 2007? Did everyone get Kick the Can mixed up with Kick the Bucket? Sheesh! Let’s impose a moratorium on the mortuary!


Today, February 12, 2008, my parents had to put their beagle Molly down, for similar reasons as our dear chow/shepherd Sophie this past August. A bleeding mass forms in the spleen and spreads to the liver, causing them to bleed internally. Both dogs were never relegated to the status of "pet". They were, from day one, part of the family.

It's also painful to note that Molly passed one year almost to the exact day as my partner's sister Helen passed, from cancer. I had hoped that we would be spared this manner of grief for a while, but such is not to be. This year is starting out just the same as last year.

Rest in peace, my sweet youngest sister. Play well with Sophie, because I know she is glad to see you.


         Next we need to find an exercise program that we like. Although we will probably stay on my current one (dodging responsibility, jumping to conclusions, pushing my luck, etc. We know that joke.), it is not very cardiovascular. Once a fun way to break a sweat is discovered, then we can look forward to losing weight, gaining muscle, posing for pics for the Over-40 mags. (Ack! What a visual! )

         Stay focused! We can NOT get distracted or let our mind wander away from any job or task that we are currently working…um…currently…er, sorry, I completely blanked on my point here…If I remember, I’ll come back to it.

         Find a literary agent! Got it? Get it? Good!

         Eliminate at least a quarter of student loans and credit card stuff! Let’s sell that novel. Let’s ride the stock market like the roller coaster it is! Let’s rob that bank…oops! Better scratch that last one.

         Refine Novels #1 and #2. Start #3. Number 2 is NOT nearly as rancid as some people think.

OK, maybe #1 was pretty bad, but only because of the adjectives.
And the first chapter of #2 really is that rancid. I'm rewriting it now.

         Stay focused! We can NOT get distracted or let our mind wander…wait a minute!


So far, 2008 has started out a little better than 2007, so praise God for small miracles! This year, it’s time for us to grab life by the ears!

Love,
Me