Another new year...seems like they come every 12 months or so

It is now officially 2007. I now have to retrain myself to put the correct year on my checks. It's almost as bad as turning back the clocks each fall.

I will miss 2006. It was a pretty good year. We had good weather, I got to teach for a semester, and no one was terribly sick. Emily finally bonded with Dave and I, my hand surgeries went well and we had a very prosperous year. I hope 2007 turns out as well.

We had a wonderful, plentiful Christmas with tons of quality family time. Kelly and Orrick came in the day after Christmas and we have had a terrific time with them. Orrick is such a gentle and courtly man; his only fault, that I can see, is that he is TOO quiet. I am accustomed to noisy people. Emily made more noise in 5 minutes than Orrick made the entire stay.

I am preparing to travel to Michigan to spend a couple of weeks with my Dad while Dave is in Brisbane. I have hired someone to care for Mama full time while we are gone. Next month, I will return to San Diego for the first time since last July. I am looking forward to going antiquing in La Mesa. Hope to plan a Mother's Day return trip to Disneyland as well.

In 25 days, my eldest child will be 35. MY biological clock for her has been ticking for some time but I think I am finally almost resigned to the notion that she will not have children. Come March, my eldest granddaughter will be 12. She is as tall as I am already. I find that astonishing. By the end of 2007, our granddaughters will be 12, 11, 8, and 4. Since 4 year-olds really aren't babies anymore, my life with babies in it will end this year, unless I live long enough to become a great-grandmother. It could happen.

Mama will be 79 this year and has already made it quite clear that she expects a big surprise party for her birthday in May.

Dave and I will be 58 in 2007. How in the hell did we get so old so fast?

Well, I am heading off to bed, now that the new year has begun. Here's hoping that 2007 is the best year ever- no war, no famine; no jihads or vendettas; cures for cancer, diabetes, AIDS and malaria; green fuels replacing fossil ones; absolutely NO Britney Spears news; teachers getting paid at least half of what the average athlete makes... hey, it could happen.