Things I have learned this year

Number One: It is possible to take on the might of the Local Authority and win. Oh yes indeedy. That was a good lesson.

Number Two: That I love my husband. Now that may seem like a bizarre lesson to have learned this year but quite frankly we've had more than our fair share of crap to contend with and it's easy to forget each other in all that. So after nineteen and a half years I can honestly say that despite his foibles, of which there are many, I love the Captain more than I did the day I married him.


Number Three: That I dislike but admire Allen Ginsberg and find Frank O'Hara insubstantial and a bit like the Emperor's New Clothes. They featured on my twentieth century literature course but quite frankly I wish they hadn't. But there's much about that course that left me cold. The texts were on the whole fantastic, but the course materials ... hmm.

Number Four: That I am not a fiction writer and I do not have a novel in me. I know that's kind of two but it's my list so I'm combining them in one. This creative writing course I'm doing is all very well but there's a massive emphasis on writing fiction. I know I can string words together when I put my mind to it but I am simply not a novelist. But that's ok, in fact it's good. From what I can see, those who can write fiction are driven by the need to do it and I'm far too lazy for that ;o)


Number Five: That I'm not ready to walk away from my faith. I've spent much of this year questioning my beliefs but have come to the conclusion that it makes more sense for me to hold on to it than to reject it. There is too much in my life that is turbulent and I enjoy the sense of continuity gained from it.


Number Six: That having a mid-life crisis has been a lot of fun but it's time to stop now and recall my sense of responsibility from the far flung reaches of the cosmos or wherever it has buggered off to while I've been taking leave of my senses.


Number Seven: That quite possibly I may actually be in a position to get a job, and maybe even one that I'd actually quite like. Now there is a novelty.


Number Eight: That I have some very good friends who've put up with a lot over this year and in years past.


Number Nine: That Prozac is lovely but being feeling well enough to cope without it has been even better. If I ever get to that place again, I wouldn't hesitate to go back on it, but I really do like being me unmedicated.


Number Ten: That I get more out of blogging than I ever dreamed possible when I wrote my very first post. I've read some fabulous blogs and made some excellent cyber mates so even in the face of jibes about my imaginary friends (I know you're all real, really I do), I shall continue.


And here endeth the lesson for 2007. I wish you all a peaceful and happy 2008.