Well, now that I’m feeling all full and bloated, it’s time to ruminate on this year’s blessings before I go sack out on the couch and watch last night’s Lost. It was a hard year, but I think I came through it OK.

First on the list has to be my grandparents. Not only for still being alive (way to go, Grampa!) but for still being active enough to take me on not one, but two cruises this year. We’re all really looking forward to the four generation family expedition to Mexico in December. Mexico better watch out.

At dinner at their club today, Grampa told me he was just aiming for 91. Since that’s coming right up in January, I asked him to please aim for 92, and he agreed to that. I fully expect him to chug along for at least five more years, even if he does it at his snail’s pace. Good ol’ Grampa.

They both really still have it together mentally too. Grampa was regaling us with stories of my 16 year old mom having boys climb in her window and tales of the lesbian headmistress at the boarding school. Mom and her sister were promptly pulled out of there, but apparently that was because of the Moonie-type sèance rather than anything else.

Next on the list is that my kids have done really well this year. They’ve really taken to the new school; John seems to have blossomed out of his schoolyard pariah status and actually has friends. Seamus has always been a friendly sort, but he has a teacher that’s really taking time with him and considers him a smart little boy, which he didn’t have last year. Good kids.

After that are my friends, who circled the wagons for me and picked me up when I was hurt. When you consider that I’d spent the previous three years with my priorities deep into my relationship, it’s a wonder that I had any friends left at all, but there they were, and without a cross word for pursuing something that I felt I had had to do. Good friends.

And really, I have to thank Cowboy too. Sure, it was excruciating, but I still respect that he was honest with me and didn’t drag me out, playing me for a fool. He turned me loose to find my own way, and I happened to stumble across a man who has some real potential, and if not him, then there are always future men. I may still find someone who makes my life complete, and whose life I in turn complete. I only had half of that equation, and sooner or later, I’d have realized it.

So, all in all, not a great year, as years have gone, but my feet are under me again and life seems to be moving forward. I guess that’s as much as anyone can ask sometimes. Good life.