Goodbye 2009!

I can't imagine on a personal level how a year could have gotten any better. OK, we could have won the lottery! While all these blessings came to us, we were totally aware and affected by what was going on outside our little nest.

No need to elaborate on the economy, the war, unemployment or the many other things going on in our country unlike anything I can ever remember. Thank God this entire year gas prices have been under control. Where is Ronald Reagan when we need him?

This has been the year of deaths of people I never met but touched my life. It started with Jett Travolta and Natasha Richardson. Two untimely and shocking ways to go. Remember, as with Natasha, we lost Sonny Bono in much the same way ten years earlier. Makes you wonder about skiing in January. As for Jett, I can feel his parent's pain.

There were the deaths of celebrities, politicians, writers, sports figures, a who's who of the icons of my generation. I will not name them as you can find the list on your own. I am going to list those who touched me most.

Walter Cronkite and Ed McMahon. Walter told me JFK was dead and that the US had landed on the Moon. A news anchor to whom I'm sure every news person tries to emulate. Ed was Johnny's sidekick, who hosted "Star Search" long before "American Idol" or "Dancing with the Stars". He knew what people liked. Who didn't wish that he would show up on your doorstep with money from "Publisher's Clearing House". Both led wonderful lives, grew to be very old and forever remembered by us all.

Then there was Farrah and Patrick. My contemporaries. Prepared for their deaths. Cancer, more often than not, gets you. Just my personal experience. Kudos to both for their valiant fights. Farrah gave me a new haircut, starring roles in movies based on my favorite books....."Blood & Money", "Small Sacrifices" and "The Burning Bed". Plus, she choose to live her life with a man who gave me my forays into adulthood with "Peyton Place" and "Love Story". Patrick showed us that true love prevails by becoming a major star and staying with Lisa, the love of his life. In my list of top ten favorite movies of all time, there is "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost". May you both rest in peace.

Then there was Jack Kemp, a quarterback and a good Republican. Within a couple of weeks we lost Teddy and his sister Eunice. Though I never shared their political views I knew everything there was to know about them and fascinated by the whole Kennedy clan. What a gift Eunice gave us with the Special Olympics. Ted, whose legacy was marred by some bad behavior, gained our respect as the Patriarch of a family who faced insurmountable tragedies. Ironically, he was the only one of his brothers who lived to be a senior citizen and die of natural causes. Rest in peace to you both.

I was called in from recess in 1963 to be told JFK was dead. I was with my mother in 1977 planning my wedding when we heard that Elvis had died. Had just entertained friends at home and turned on the TV while cleaning up to find out about Princess Di's car accident. I worked in a television station when Challenger exploded in 1986and saw first hand the coverage. I was on my way to work when I heard on the radio of the 9/11 attacks. As all of you know through certain horrific events that touched you, you will always remember where you were when you found out. Another one of those days came my way on 6/25/09, hours after hearing of Farrah's death, I walked into "Old Time Pottery" with my future daughter-in-law to shop for the wedding when my daughter called to tell me about Michael Jackson.

I remember the excitement of the 1983 Motown 25th anniversary special when I saw him "moonwalk" for the first time, my love of the Jackson 5, "Thriller" and "Bad". Again, the source of some questionable behavior. I think he will always be remembered as the little boy lost who had more talent that we can ever conceive of. Thank you Michael for being a part of my life.

Billy Mays annoyed me, but I sure have a lot of Oxy-Clean. He could have sold me so much more. You go David Carridine for being in your 70's and losing your life to some kind of strange sexual act.

As before, there are so many 2009 losses. These are the ones that touched me most.

2009

Personally, 2009 has been the best year ever. Not perfect but as close as it gets. Our son worked hard enough to secure a position immediately upon college graduation over 200 hundred miles away leaving us and his fiance behind.

The early months were tough as he came back to us every weekend. There was a wedding to plan. The wear and tear on him and his car were of great concern. Miraculously, he was laid off in April. Which was not good, but he would come home, attend grad school and become a husband to a woman we loved. Everyone was a bit relieved. Of course, he had caught wind of his impending lay-off and sent out resumes.

A month after he returned from Atlanta, when his place in grad school was secured, his future bride had signed a contract to teach kindergarten and a lease was signed for another year in Raleigh, he was offered a better job in Greensboro 70 miles away. Needless to say, he took it and has a much shorter commute this time but still grueling.

In the meantime he married Autumn in the most beautiful wedding ever and our dream is that a year from now she will have a position close to his work, they will buy a home, which logistically be located between ours and her parent's homes.

Plus, they managed to give us Tasha, an eight year old, Lhasa Apso, with one eye, crooked teeth and, without a doubt, the most wonderful dog ever. As you know I don't like dogs, certainly tried to understand why everyone I knew adored them but could never quite figure it out. Secretly, I dreaded Tasha when told of her adoption. An animal in my house? I've known her since May and her image is on all my screen savers, I go to Pet Smart, I shop for her clothes. She is with us about a week a month on various days, if she is here I don't leave the house unless she goes with me, I am head over heels in love. Go figure?

In addition, we have a daughter, a college Sr., pulls off 4.0's, works for the EPA, in honors' fraternities and is courted by pharmaceutical companies. She is still our baby and we enjoy every minute together.

Plus, my brother, at almost 50, married for the first time to a fabulous woman who gave us a very special nephew. My mother is healthy and happy and so much a part of everything mentioned above.


Can't say this in a Christmas letter or it would be bragging. Or so I think. I have no exotic vacations to tell you about, no major improvements to our home, except decluttering and paint, no boats or fancy cars or even a cell phone that more than make calls. Fact is we live in 2009 and times are tough.

Always my family's Polly Anna. My wish is that you all get to experience my 2009.

I Miss My Emails

At the turn of this century one of the coolest things I got to do was stay in touch with friends through e mail. I was always one to send a Christmas letter, birthday card or jot down "thinking of you" note. The innovation of e mail was a delight to me as so many did not share my passion of staying connected through mail. I was finally hearing from those I hadn't heard from in years. It was wonderful for a while.

Ten years later my e mails consist of things business related or someone trying to sell me something. God bless the businesses that I have given my address to as they daily update me with promotions or offers. However, they are the junk mails I don't have time to look at or fear that any response will result in more of the same. These are good, businesses trying to succeed in this economy. I resent a promise of a gift card when my address will be given to millions. Tough times. I have recently joined the unemployed and certainly respect what they are trying to do.

Point is, I missed the emails from friends. I know that I can be a bit verbose when I write anything and I figured my lack of responses was because people had no time to keep up. I got the jokes, videos and inspirational pieces they sent and it was good to know they were still out there. However, I missed the personal contact.

I knew of Face book through my children and considered it as something they did. It seemed like too much information to too many people and a way to brag about something. Then a friend who I not seen in 15 years, "Friended" me. I had always been in contact with her so I figured if she liked it I would too. Found out why my personal emails were gone. They were all on Face book! Five months after this revelation I am in contact with friends and associates, some since HS (Class of '73).

I love this way of keeping up. Embarrassed it took me so long to get there.