2010

In December of 2009, I was giddy and excited about the prospect of 2010 because of how much it promised to be, what it promised to bring and just how much marrow we were going to be sucking out of its bones.  Alas, 2010 wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.  Then again, nothing ever is.  To say we’ve had a few setbacks in the first half 2010 would be an understatement.

After spraining my ankle, I decided I’d had just about enough.  I called uncle, followed with a one-two-three no-give-backs.  Then I turned around three times and kissed a hobbit and a his cousin, who promised me it was good luck.  So I was thinking that things would be looking up.  A hobbit told me so!

After a few things here and there, I’ve noticed that even though things aren’t coming up roses and money trees, there are good things happening.  Like Jason getting a speeding ticket fine reduced (don’t get me started!) instead of having to pay the full fine.

Or the seatbelt in the back of the van that was stuck somehow for the last two years?  Miraculously became unstuck right at the moment when we needed that seventh belt.

And Jason stopped at the local (read: more expensive) gas station on his way to the further away (read: cheaper) gas station, only to have the gas station attendant (Oregon law prohibits you from pumping your own gas, FYI, so all stations have attendants that have to pump it for you.  And FYI?  I love it because it’s easier with kids and cold weather!) accidentally fill the tank up  instead of just putting in the $10.00 we requested, and them only charging us for that $10.00 instead of the full $60.00 it would have been.  (Read: free tank of gas!)

And Jason’s had some work prospects come in both with his business and on a regular job front.  Both aspects are promising, and both gave us the shot in the arm we needed to not feel so down about the situation.

And Pixie, our 9-year-old Jack Russell, recently had something wrong with her back and developed a sore of some sort (she has terrible allergies).  We generally have to pay $200.00 a pop when this happens for all the meds and tests and everything that is required.  Total vet bill?  Thirty-two bucks and we have a happy and healing dog!

Plus, this is on top of having fantastic kids who are healthy and happy, beautiful weather that allows us to do beautiful and fun things outside like go to the river and fish or swim in the pool or play at the park or do any other number of things that make us grateful to live right where we live so that we can enjoy all the fantastic things that southern Oregon has to offer.

I told Jason just today that even though things aren’t easy and haven’t been easy, there really is a lot that we have that many others don’t have.  And we’re having our own unusual strokes of good luck lately.  And the not-so-great things have really forced me to look for those strokes of good fortune, and I think that’s a beautiful thing as well.

I think 2010 is going to be all that I had hoped for and more, even if it’s packaged in different wrapping paper.

**Update 7/26/10 @ 1:38 p.m.:  And just like that, another new client is thrown into the mix for Jason.  See what thinking positively can do?  That and some major advertising.