New Years Day, 2004

Two years ago, I wrote a piece called New Years Day, about Thanksgiving. I said:

Thanksgiving has seemed like the turning of the new year for me - the time when I reflect on the past year's agonies and flubs and successes, and look forward to the next year. Much more so - for me anyway - than New Years' Eve, which is more decompression from Christmas than anything.

Last year, at the tail end of one of the most miserable years of my life, I added:

If anything, I have more to be thankful about this year: that I got through four months of unemployment and five more of drastic underemployment, in one piece; a new job; opportunities; relative stability.

It's a new year for me, again; as I noted last year, all the big changes in my life seem to hinge on the Thanksgiving season, good or bad. This year seems to be no exception - this year, it seems to be a good thing. So far.

And for that, I'm deeply thankful.

It's another year - as I wrote two years ago, and as it's been for the last 19 years, Thanksgiving is the beginning of the new year for me.

And what a year it was. Thanksgiving last year was vivid with memories of the year I'd just survived; this year's leitmotif is happier, with horizons expanding and life in general feeling a lot better.

I'm thankful for all the new people in Iraq and Afghanistan who've joined the world's democratic voter rolls. I'm deeply thankful for the troops that made it possible, as I am for NARN guys and the band of local bloggers whose roll Jo called the other day. And its been great; it's the closest thing to a social life I've had in a long time, and it's a fun group.

Of course, I'm thankful for my family - "Bun" and Sam, who are the maddening little lights of my life. I'm luckier than I can imagine.

Anyway, it's back to getting dinner ready. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone. More posting tomorrow.

Michelle Malkin has her usual, wonderful run-down of Thanksgiving links.

Posted by Mitch at November 25, 2004 09:54 AM | TrackBack