It's The New Year Baby!

Bye Bye 2008
Normally I don't like to see the current year pass on. Knowing I will never see it again makes me sad. Like saying goodbye to an old friend knowing it may be a long time till you see them again, if ever.

But as for me and 2008--bump that. See ya when I see ya.

Peace!

I am so thrilled to bust out a brand new calender, for me it represents an official fresh start and putting an extremely difficult year behind me. January 1 2009 cannot come soon enough.

A Year In Review Past
Each year since the summer I turned 13 in 1993, I always look back at my year in a diary entry I dub "Perdita's Year in Review-XXXX". Some of the nonsense I have summed up at the end of some years was scatterbrained, others just indicative of a young child coming of age.

That summer I would sneak out of the house after midnight to play manhunt with a militia of other kids in our neighbourhood gully. We'd set the plan that afternoon, decide on a meeting time and point then sneak out of our respective windows. One night I brought my younger sister with me, we shared a room and she saw me leaving. To keep my secret I had to bring her slowpoke tail along.

Walking slower than usual (surprise!) to the rendez vous spot we got caught in the parking lot by our friend's mom. She was dressed in some scandalous outfit which I found strange since she looked like Mary Poppins in the day time. She asked where in the world we were going and questioned why we were both dressed in black.

(The nerve of this nocturnal private dancer to inquire about my attire w/ her fish net stocking self--but I was to young to question this back then, so I will now).

Nevertheless I froze like Bambi on the 401.

Certain mother would hear about this and I would be punished w/ the belt or whatever she grabbed first: hanger, shoe, pot...
I came up with a lie so big, that I've since repented, but certain I could still be heading to hades.

But I had to save us: "Uhh, my brother has not come home tonight, and my mother is at home crying. We are going to one of his friend's house to see if he may be there. My mom wanted us to wear black so no one would see us and take us.".

Jennifer's mother looked at us suspiciously, but then seemed to eat the lie right up. "Ok then" she said, as she hopped in her car, lit a cigarette and sped off to what I am certain now was the nudie bar.

Looking back at that year in review I thought I was so independent and grown-up, having this secret night life. Now looking back I was disobedient, a fibber and very irresponsible. And all the things you are allowed to be at 13!

2008 In Review
I haven't reviewed 2008 yet, I'm delaying what it might reveal or what I may learn about myself. If I had to take a stab at it I'd say I have learned:
1. "What a difference a year makes" is bang on
2. Relish every moment that you are doing something you love
3. When life gives you lemons, you better love you some lemonade
4. Cherish the people that treat and love you the same in your every circumstance
5. Be grateful for the good
6. Be grateful for the not so good
7. Small victories can turn out to be your biggest triumphs

...I'll have pages and pages to write in "Perdita's Year in Review: 2008". All I know is I am not unchanged as a result of this year and I think I'll discover it's for the better.

2009 We Welcome You!
Perdita