Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2008: A Year in Review

The year started with Hillary shedding a tear for the press and saying, "This is very personal." On January 8th, she won the New Hampshire Primary, but she did not win in Tilton. Later that night, Barack called us at our return watching party to thank us for our perseverance and ask us to keep fighting. We did exactly that. 
On the 22nd of that month, Heath was found dead in his apartment at the young age of 28. The New York City medical examiner's office report read, "We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications." Accidents suck.

In February, I said goodbye to the Cult, and started a new job. Kerry got engaged to Mr. Right, Neal broke his ankle, Verge also got a new job, and Mike's friend dropped a tree on his house. I miss seeing those guys every day. They make me laugh. Hard.

I went to see 10,000 B.C. in March. Not bad.

I don't remember much happening in April.

In May, I saw Iron Man (my second favorite movie of the year) attended Free Comic Book Day at Larry's store, and watched Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian with Lindsay, Em, and Verge. The geek boys that sat in back of us that night were very funny. Em threw up.

The Obama campaign came back to the state in June, and we rallied the troops for the final stretch. Hillary and Barack had their event in Unity, but I chose to work that day. I got my name back that month as well. This time for keeps. I also drank lots of cold Mojitos. Lots.

In July I finally got to view, The Dark Knight. Wow- my favorite movie of the year. I hope they retire the Joker as an onscreen Batman villain. Who could top that performance? Seriously?
Lindsay also had a birthday party in July for her two beautiful babies, Darren and Abby. Later that evening, while sitting next to a fire, I fell over backwards in my lawn chair....slowly. And I do mean slowly. Dean was the one to offer a hand.

I had my heart broken in August. I lost my cousin Dale to cancer. It's still an open wound that is healing as time passes. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him. 
Michael taught me how to boogie board on the ocean in August, and took me dancing high above the waves on the pier at Old Orchard Beach. Tears of joy and tears of sadness. It gets blurred sometimes, doesn't it?

September was a great month for the Obama camp, as Sarah gave a huge shot in the arm to the campaign. I was hoping for Republican homes to canvass that month, and giggling at the SNL YouTube videos. Good stuff right there.

In October I watched my Em up on stage and hoped this would be the year she would win the crown. She was the prettiest girl there, and had the hottest evening gown ever. She's just so beautiful. 
John's band released their first CD, and Verge and I were witches at the merch table. Boo- Yes.

Election Day was November 4th, and I spent 14 hours that day getting our supporters to the polls, canvassing the neighborhoods, and was an accomplice to killing a raccoon or two. I spent that night home alone, watching the returns on t.v., and crying. My 18 months with the campaign had come to an end. Barack won. Straight up.

December brought a horrible ice storm, and left over 400,000 homes without power. Michael bought a kerosene heater up in Maine, and drove it down to my house so my pipes wouldn't freeze and burst. Colter came over and got a tree off my roof.  John cut up the tree that had fallen in the front yard. Soon we were warm again. 
Christmas was at Lindsay's house, and she made the best turkey dinner ever. Santa brought me a 1966 Batmobile, the Joker, pearls, a microwave, and wine. We had cheesecake for dessert on Christmas. 
Mmmm........cheesecake.




Sunday, December 21, 2008

The Shortest Day


"And so...the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us- listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year."