When 2009 Attacks!
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At midnight, both of us were frantically dumping pail after pail of water from our slop sinks when we noticed that our main water line, the one that collects all the water not only from our slop sink and washer, but from our showers, sinks and yes, toilets, had backed up and clogged right at the trap (that odd looking pipe opening in the basement).
25 minutes later my father-in-law, brother-in-law, and uncle were over in their party clothes, wrenches in hand as we attempted to open the trap and snake our way clear of the clog. The smell can only be described as pungent, and it was close to 2:00 AM before my wife and I, exhausted and smelling like the Men's room in a basement pub finally cracked open the champagne and in between yawns bid 2008 adieu and welcomed 2009.
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We're both no longer the types to launch into a myriad of resolutions - we know ourselves too well to think we'll keep them. Instead, we had a long conversation about what we want for ourselves and out family, and made to each other and to ourselves to do whatever we could to make those things happen. A lot of the usual things are covered under this blanket vow (getting healthier, saving more money), but the main promise, the one that for us this year supersedes all others is the wish to be happy.
Sounds like such an easy thing, but the reality is that with the 1,001 obligations that weigh down on us every day it becomes harder and harder to take the time to do the things that really bring us joy. Not just individually, although that's certainly a part of it. But those things that strengthen a marriage, that keep the relationship between two people close and intimate, fresh and without regret or resentment. Every day I'm reminded a dozen times of how much I love my wife and my son, but it's always the latest frustration, the more recent aggravation that sticks with me instead.
And the next day it happens again.
So we vowed this year that we would take 2009 for ourselves. Make that time to be with each other instead of retiring to our separate activities to "relax" and let off steam. So "no" to the countless requests that threaten to take out time away from one another, and get back to the state of mind where the frustrations and aggravations are overshadowed by all the wonderful little things we see every day but discount as not being worth our time.
Happy New Year. I hope that whatever it is you're looking for in 2009 you find it.
