Goodbye 2009

Well, finally... the end of 2009.

I would say that this image pretty much sums up my year. This year had a rough start, it began with the lingering chaos of 2008 which honestly took everything out of me. I would also say this year was a "rebuilding" year, inside myself and my surroundings. I finally moved from the middle of nowhere country to the state capital where opportunity and new memories are plentiful. I suffered a major loss this month when my best friend, my loyal companion dog of almost 7 years passed away far too suddenly. Still trying to get over that. Earlier in 2009 I thought I knew about about heartache, although, I found out from the loss of Gus that some heartaches hit not only our hearts, but hits us at the very core of who we are. After losing him I couldn't wait for this year to be over... I'm feeling a fresh start coming. No more "at this time last year..." negative sort of stuff. As rough as this year was I am actually proud of myself. I accomplished a lot in 2009. When I do look back on 2009 instead of crying and feeling horrible about things I could not control like 2008, 2009 leaves me feeling all the pains I suffered yet with a sense of pride that not only did I make it through... I succeeded.

All in all, this year flew by, but was filled with the average amount of light and dark, a heaping helping of art and artistically beautiful moments, new faces and familiar favorite ones, struggle and success.

Since today is the last day of the year I went for a walk in my favorite park to think over the whole year and say goodbye to it. There was snow on the ground there, which surprised me since I live only 5 blocks or so from it and there was none in my yard or any of my neighbors. Overnight the temperatures rose and snow turned to rain which melted most of what was on the ground... but for in the Park of Roses. It was so warm I didn't need a jacket or winter hat, but did however need my umbrella to shield me from the cold sprinkling rain. My blip of the day is just a photo of me standing behind my rainbow umbrella twirling it as I watched the rain fly off the edges and melt the snow all around me. It was edited so that it looked like everything, the whole world, was coming at the viewer as I stood still... because, to me, that is how this year felt.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Safe New Year filled with the brightest moments of your life.