Goodbye 2009

It's New Year's Eve and the end of the first decade of Y2K so I can't help but reflect for a moment on the year and what is to come.



This year was eventful to say the least.



Jen & I seemed better than ever. We still have our moments and fight about stupid things but I think this was the first year Jen hasn't left the house after an arguement...she just goes to bed now! We were thrilled when Gov. Baldacci passed the marriage equality bill in May. We weren't going to plan a wedding until Merle and Kaylee convinced us otherwise over 4th of July weekend. We were going to have the wedding right there in Kaylee's backyard. After 2 days of wedding planning and a date set for September 26th, the signatures were submitted and the bill was going to a people's vote in November. Maine could make history and be the first state to pass a vote for gay marriage or be statistic #31! We watched with excitement and anxiety for the election results on Nov. 3rd only to be completely devestated. So much for equality...just another statistic.



Jen successfully brought the Brewer Goodwill out of the red and to the $700,000 mark. I was so proud of her success. She applied and was hired as store manager at the new Ellsworth Goodwill. It opened in November and she's been working hard ever since to keep it going strong. I'm so proud of her!



My job...well, part-time sucks. I tried to make the best of it and put my focus into drama. That paid off because Seussical Jr was the most successful musical I have ever produced! I made another failed attempt at jazz band...keeps getting smaller. I had my first experience as 8th grade class advisor. OMG what stress that brought on but I think it was mostly because of the personalities I had to deal with. Can't believe I agreed to do it again this year! Still, I feel like a second class citizen...schedule has gone from bad to worse because Music is nearly a filler! Needless to say I'm actively looking for a new job! I love my co-workers and the children, but I can't be unhappy with my position.



Our living situation has had its ups and downs and prompted us to begin searching for a house. Ben needed a place to live so we painfully packed up Lillie's old room and moved Ben in. After 2 months, his dog and our dog had a run in with Crazy Sallie. She in turn called the cops. Landlord was upset but not as upset as when Sallie called the cops because we were having a "wild party". I called Stan and apparently so did Sallie because I got my ass chewed out and Ben's dog had to go. Hope the old bag never crosses my path because I will not have nice things to say!



We continued to see Lillie every other weekend as part of the placement agreement and it looked as if things were going to end in termination of parental rights. I still don't get how we went from a termination trial to Jen & Brice getting custody, but it is what it is. Jen & Brice got Lillie back in July, the end of June was the last time I saw Lillie for 2 months. However, we've been able to have her at least one weekend a month and even got to take her to MA for Christmas. I just wish the best for her!



Jynx had 6 more kittens...2 on March 16th and 4 on July 5th. Of the 2, we kept one....Ziggy, and of the 4 we kept one...Megrim. With Ben's cat Blizzard, we are at 9!



The year didn't come without loss. Michael Jackson was the most shocking. Closer to home, my mom's first cousin/my godfather, Charlie Tessier, passed away in May. The funeral wasn't until the end of June. As sad as it was, it reconnected us with the Tessier family. Lillie was finally able to meet a family we were once so close to as well. We all met up again in October when Aunt Corrine passed away. In July, the UMaine gang and our families were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of Tammany's little girl. We'd gone to Skowhegan for a gathering the weekend Schuyler was born. We didn't find out until 2 days later that Schuyler passed 40 minutes after birth. I felt such extreme pain for Tammany and Mike. A week later, Jen, Ben, Jen and I went to MA for the baby's funeral. Sandy met us there. It was one of the worst funerals I've ever been to!



Since we are such big TV gurus, we kissed a sad goodbye to The L Word, found a new friend in Dexter, and finally won a Survivor pool!



I want to end this reflection with a thank you to facebook. It was thanks to facebook that I stayed connected with friends from far away and reconnected with friends from the past. It amazes me that one social network can keep me connected and up-to-date with so many people past and present!



2010 is going to be a big year...we have some big hopes and dreams that we need to make happen! We can do this, so this time next year I will have even more to be thankful for!