Fun Monday-2010

I haven't taken part in Fun Monday for a while for a variety of reasons, but I thought I'd jump in this week since the lovely Mariposa, who is always so good to host Fun Monday on a regular basis, made a point to invite me. Besides, I needed a little inspiration for a topic. I've been on vacation since December 24th, and I think my brain has trickled out of my right ear and onto the floor. Marisposa wants to know what we're looking forward to in 2010. Easy enough. Or is it?

2009 was a rough year for the Hula-gen's thanks to an unexpected death and the dysfunction we like to call Hubby's family. I normally don't wish away time, but frankly, I was glad to turn loose of 2009. She was a b**** with an attitude. I'm hoping 2010 is a lot kinder to us.

I don't have a particular event I'm looking forward to this new year, and I didn't really make any resolutions. I simply resolve to be. To be still and listen more often. To be quiet when I want to speak but shouldn't. And to focus on one day at a time. That all sounds simple, but it's much easier said than done. The drama of 2009 taught me that life is going to stink on a regular basis, and we just have to roll with it. People are going to get sick. Loved ones are going to die. Money may be short, as well as our time. I have found peace of mind only by choosing not to look too far into the future and by savoring the minutes and hours that make up each day.

Frankly, it's hard to think about what could lay ahead for us this year. Papa T.'s health is sliding fast. I haven't really blogged about it much because my family seeks privacy on this issue, but I could literally blog every day about the wickedness of dementia and the way it tears the mind apart. The forgetfulness, the agitated moods, the incontinence. The fingers of this disease touch every part of the being, and it is exhausting trying to take care of Papa T. I knew Sissy's death would accelerate his health problems, and boy has it. For once, I don't like being right. I think this year will bring some importance and difficult decisions about his care. For now, we will keep puttering along and face each issue as it arises.

The year will bring joy, too. Teen Angel will begin her senior year of high school in the fall. I can't believe my baby is seventeen, and I can't believe we will likely be empty nesters soon. She is maturing into a beautiful young woman and aside from those 2.3 seconds every day that I want to pinch her head off, she makes us proud in many ways.

I look forward to running more. I didn't really make a resolution regarding my running, other than to keep a running log. I'm going to use it to look for trends and get a handle on the things I'm doing wrong and the things I'm doing right. I will never be fast. My form will never be pretty, but I can be consistent and keep my body healthy. (I could be a tiny bit faster, if I'd make myself do some intervals.) And I plan to give some serious thought to the Nashville or Memphis half marathons this year. It all depends on how crazy our lives are. I saw an ad for the National Guard at the theater yesterday that featured the motto "Failure is not an Option". I like that. I need something to use as a mantra to keep my mind right when I'm running, and I've decided to use that. It's either that or "Don't Stop". Perhaps that should be my motto for the year, "Don't Stop". Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and face each day as it comes. Oh, and I might take a few pictures along the way.