2009

I started thinking about 2009 and thinking about codifying what happened in my life this year.

Graham
Graham always said he wanted to live long life, but that he would probably die sooner than most. He was right. I miss him terribly. I sat this Christmas Eve thinking about last Christmas, when he worked (even though he'd had the days off) for a mate who had a family. We spent most of Christmas Eve last year on the phone and on the Internet with each other. I can't really remember what we talked about, except my learning to pronouce Leicester Square properly. But I don't need to remember each word or topic because I know we talked about heavy and serious stuff, and that we laughed a lot and that Graham talked about the double time he was earning (he liked earning double time) and I now that I'm writing about it, I recall he was working at the Institute that night. He had to do rounds when working at the Institute and then there was the computer lady (that's what we called her) who put in an automated call every two hours as a status check on the guards station.

I miss Graham most on weekends. When he went to his new post in November of 2008, it meant he had weekends off, which meant we had long hours to talk--with no interruption from rounds, phone calls or the computer lady). I also recall this was the time during which Graham was waiting for the installation of his phone line in his flat because his no location didn't have Internet access. The phone took till February and by then he'd gotten a wireless card to give him access from work (it never worked very well at home).

December and January were also the months when he had his check ups. Last year his cancer was still in remission, but his heart condition had deteriorated further. Graham always half pooh-poohed what the cardiac doctor said because he was able to ride his bike to work with no problems, and actually did some weekend rides in the spring of 2009, though not as many as he'd done the year before.

Most of all, I miss the laughter.


Knitting
Looking back, I realized I learned to knit with double pointed needles and mastered the magic loop this year. Finished a number of items, including a pillow, washcloths, 2 cowls, a hat. I have several wips and several ufo's.

Weaving,
The project on my hand-loom is a definite ufo.

Spinning
This will require more practice during 2010. Preferably during Toupie's nap time.

Writing
Need to finish the novel written during November Novel Writing Month.

Sewing
Is on the cards for 2010.

Reading
Since my mother's death, I have struggled to read. No more Saturday afternoons of reading for hours at a stretch. I've read bits of books, struggled through entire magazine issues. I don't have problems reading knitting magazines. All this has put me in a quandry. There are books I know I want to read and magazines I'd like to subscribe to, but I can't justify spending the money if the most use I will get out them is dusting them once a week.

Health,
Still need to have finished the work I had started in 2009, but I'm on the downhill side of that now. I have managed since the spring of 2008 to consistently not only loose weight but keep it off. My Dr. is so pleased! I am seriously considering doing the veg share again this summer because, despite the increased amout of cooking involved, it was so nice to know that every Thursday I'd have organic veggies to cook.

My lone resolution for 2010 is taking better care of my glasses. My lenses are horribly scratched by the time I get a new pair and it's not like they've developed an itch.

Sitting
Since Warrior III my sitting has taken off. No, I'm not sitting for hours or having 90% marvellous meditation sessions. It's as if I've somehow discovered the Joy of Sitting. That knowing there's a part of my day, however long it lasts, when I don't have to do/think about anything, but lightly focussing on my breath is taking on the same excitement as levelling up in Farmville. Most mornings Toupie is cooperative and then there are morning's when he isn't.

It also helped that II and III were so close together--the post-weekend glow from Warrior II had barely worn off when I was in Warrior III. And now, two weeks after Warrior III, I've shared this marvellous experience of Monlam with those who went to Bodhgaya and with the virtual sangha around the world who watched via the Internet.

Toupie
Toupie didn't seem enthralled by the idea of the start of new decade. Nor was he impressed when I told him he would be five on his next birthday. But despite these minor shortcomings, he is a wonderful pet companion. Who constantly does surprising things: the other night he pulled at a lap blanket I had folded on a storage bin until there was enough of it on the floor to make a nice, cosy place for him to curl up. He still does verticle experiments, but last year he stopped going through my purse and tote bag. Maybe 2010 will be the year he stops going through the groceries before I can get them put away.

The digital camera
I am the world's worst photographer. But with the digital camera, I somehow manage to take pictures that don't have my fingers in the frame. Okay, you can close your mouths now. Yes, I've taken a year's worth of photos with NO FINGERS in them. This is a major life achievement.