End of the Line... for 2010

I don't make New Year's Resolutions. I figure if I'm not hell-bent on changing something in, say, mid-September, why would I bother to do it on January 1st? I wouldn't.

I'm also not one for looking back and reflecting on the past year. I probably did once, when I was a young, fresh-faced lass still imagining that a new calendar meant some sort of tangible change. Now I do no more than make a snap judgment of I suppose the year was pretty good or That totally sucked, and move on.

This year, that snap judgment was just a shrug and Enh, it was the same as every other year. Nothing of note.

Which is clearly not true. Since I love me a good list, I'm going to use a list to shake off the apathy and make some effort at memorializing 2010. So here it is...


Ten Random Things I Did in 2010 that Turned Out to Be Pretty Awesome

1. Joined Twitter, and became addicted to it
2. Drank the Rainbow
3. Traveled to more than 20 cities in 8 countries, including 6 different US States
4. Did almost all of my traveling solo
5. Tried authentic Texas barbecue and discovered that BBQ sauce neutralizes the pure evil of pickles
6. Started this blog, and attracted upwards of 2 readers
7. Continued not joining Facebook
8. Cooked a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner for my Seattle family
9. Started watching Jersey Shore
10. Acquired some new besties

I could also do an opposite list: stuff that sucked in 2010, but that's just the kind of thinking that gets me all bitter and negative in the first place. So I'm not going to write those things down... at least not until tomorrow.

Home for the Holidays

It's always an ordeal going to see my family for their gatherings. They're good people, they try to entertain me, and they're even amusing in the weirdest ways. Take this example...

My grandfather has macular degeneration and has lost probably 80% of his eyesight, so everyone does their best to help him still be able to do the things he loves -- albeit blindly. A few weeks ago, my mom showed up to find Grandpa's clothes stained with blood, his hands and arms clumsily wrapped in gauze bandages. When she asked what had happened, he explained that he was fine, he'd just been trying to filet a fish and maybe cut himself once or twice.

My grandmother's response was that he must have sliced his digits because of the poor state of his cutlery. Her solution? She bought him a fancy electric knife for Christmas.

As the entire family started chatting in hushed tones to determine who'd take Grandpa to the emergency room on his first use of this new Finger Removal System, he exclaimed, "Oh! This is great! I'm gonna chop up everything in the countryside!"

Needless to say chop up everything in the countryside became the callback joke of choice for my cousin and I all night, while the cool aunts took over the meals, banning mayonnaise "salads" and allowing mimosas at brunch for the first time. Unfortunately, the weekend was otherwise as usual. The aged told stories of their health problems, and everyone attempted to give me guilt for only showing up once a year and not wanting to take home kitschy family heirlooms that I have nowhere to display or store.

No matter how things change in a family, they're always the same. I may be related to those folks, but I can't relate to them. It makes me appreciate my chosen relations here in Seattle, my logical family (rather than biological), as Armistead Maupin put it. But when it comes down to it, I suppose I'm lucky to have both; not everyone does.

So this year, I am thankful for, and wish all good things to, all of my family members... no matter how I acquired them!