Although seriously, how could I possible be brief about this year with all the shit that’s happened.Through the good and bad one is suppose to reflect on progress made, but there was none this year.

It started off as any other normal year until word surfaced that the archdiocese had put my beloved school on the chopping block. We all know how that ended – it closed, I have a new job, Matthew had to finish Junior high in a new school – it’s not going well.

Easter was good. My mom and dad came over for a 3 week visit. We did Burlington coat factory a hundred times, the city, the beach the seaport… we had a ball.

The summer came and all was quiet, too quiet. I got word one of my 3rd grade students had been struck by a car. That didn’t turn out well either, she was removed from life support on July 22nd , 8 days after her 9th birthday.

The rest of July didn’t pass without incident, my mom landed in the hospital only to be told her cancer was back – and it was terminal. They gave her a year, I flew home September 2nd, she dies 5 days later in my dad’s arms and holding the hand of my brother and I. It wasn’t easy, it still isn’t easy, I just don’t talk about it much anymore.

Oh there was more. On returning to the States one of my former 8th grade students died in a car accident. Would it ever end?

Life emerged and cleared the fog for a while, my Nephew’s wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy – there was light.

We’re now in December, 2006 is almost over. 2007 will have to work hard at being a dynamite year to erase the crap from this year.

So what has all this done for me? I don’t think it’s made me stronger, I still cry like a baby when things remind me of all the events of the year, but it has made me cherish my life and the lives of those around me. As corny as it may sound, there isn’t a day goes by without me thanking God for what I have, what I’ve accomplished, what I’m capable of accomplishing, and being grateful for those around me who have giving me the love and support without asking for anything in return.

I don’t lose my temper so much, I count to ten and bite my tongue and literally ask myself if it’s worth getting upset over. My scathing letter to M’s teacher is my first flip out, and no, I won’t rethink that one.

Did the year go out like a lamb, nah that would have been to much to ask, instead 3 of us were hit with a stomach virus and spent 2 days before Christmas in bed or hugging the toilet while puking, and Conor got it Christmas eve and had to spend the day at home with hubby who had to deal with him and a head cold.

Sure there was some nice things that happened in 2006, but they were dwarfed by the crap and most of them I can’t recall.

So here’s to 2007, may it be everything you want it to be. Greet it with love, don’t take it for granted, slow down and smell the roses, and at the first sign of it turning bad, you have my permission to stand up and give it a swift kick up the ass.