Everything That Glitters

So I might be 11 days late to get this ball rolling, but it's time for the start of a new year (a new decade, even!!). It's traditionally a time to look back on the year and reflect and decide how we can do bigger and better in the next year. Instead of looking forward, over the past few weeks, I've found myself looking back a lot, you know hindsight's 20-20 and all that. I like to look at how my life would be different or if it would be at all.

Some things I've looked back on recently: 2009 not only marked the end of a decade, but it marked 10 years since my Granny died. The year culminated with my 90-year old grandfather moving into assisted living and out of the house that he and my Granny shared. I wasn't there when the rest of the family cleaned out the house, so once I was there at a house full of stuff and the next time it was totally deserted. As Justin and I stood there in the house, my emotions were at a peak. Tears were pouring down my face, and I looked around and could see my Granny and Papa sitting in their chairs while Granny told Whitney and I where to put the Christmas decorations on the tree. I have so many regrets from that day. It was the last day I saw my Granny alive. She was fine - a little tired - but surrounded by the love of her family as we'd just celebrated Thanksgiving. I wish I would've stayed longer, I wish I wasn't in such a rush to get back to Granbury, and most of all, more than anything, I wish I knew if I told her that I loved her before I left. It's been 10 years, and I've wondered that more times than I could ever count. Thank God my relationship with my Papa has grown so much over the years, and I never get off the phone or leave him without telling him that I love him. I will not spend 10 years wondering when I have the chance to make it right the first time.

More things I've learned from 2009:
* There are times when my life resembles a gag reel from a movie, and there are times when it resembles a war scene from a movie.
* Taylor Swift sure figured out a lot from being 15 once (sorry Kristy - and I feel like I'm constantly apologizing to you for my musical tastes!); in your life you truly will do greater things than dating the boy on the football team.
* Sometimes you just have to tell someone that you've had a good day. Even if it's a top slice of bread on the crap sandwich kind of day.
* The grass is NOT always greener on either side. Some days it's dead and yellow on one side and up in flames on the other.
* There is a furry little creature named after my husband's favorite beer who owns a big corner of my heart. I love that dog more than I love a lot of humans.
* Spanish Club on Friday nights can make you forget about that crap sandwich while making you cry from laughing so hard.
* A glass of wine by the fire can cure a lot of life's problems. A loud game of Bananagrams or Taboo will cure the rest.

So I do have a lot of things to look forward to in 2010, and there are a lot of things I want to change. Big major thing this year: GRADUATION!!! The other stuff: another day, another dollar. Maybe next time. Hoping that you are continually blessed in this new decade.