oh eight

the gifts have been opened, a wonderful bike ride has been had, and true to december form, the day is already done and the neighbors' lights are brightening the night. i'm ensconced in the living room, tree in the corner, covered in ornaments to the point where we can barely see the branches. the fire is keeping me warm and i hear dinner being prepared in the kitchen. soon enough i'll have to get up from my favorite spot on the couch and join everyone for a meal of filet, potatoes, snap peas, and red velvet cupcakes (my contribution, made from scratch). i guess i'll finally have to go upstairs and finish packing for new england. i've put it off all day. usually i like to be ready to go and just go to bed the night before an early flight, but today i haven't been too motivated to get my stuff together. christmas around here is a day for relaxing and listening to music, maybe getting some exercise, and fidgeting with new toys. i'll have to bring my gifts upstairs, too. then, when i come home from new years in new hampshire, i'll be ready to face the new year head-on. no cleaning up from christmas. i'll be ready to go.

the past year has been a long one. the good moments have certainly outmeasured the bad ones, but the year did happen to start with an onslaught of tough times. i went through the cancer's back-no it isn't-yes it is in january and suddenly was thrust back into being the patient once again. and it seems to have stuck. i can't believe i managed to have a life, having to go to the hospital every three weeks, hitting the reset button again and again and again. but live i did, and in review, i like to think i did it to the fullest. skiing in places from the poconos to whistler (not to mention snowbird, where i was when my doctor called me to give me the news the cancer was back)... san francisco... italy... training for the livestrong challenge... the cabin... the barney's... finally riding a century... west virginia... state college... and so many things right here at home, not to mention work. i've been as busy as i can be, most of the time. sure, every couple of weeks i lost a couple days to sleeping, but i'm really glad to be able to say i am still here. honestly, as of late last january, i wasn't sure i would be. i started thinking about christmas in july, just as a backup plan.

my list of things i want to do continues to grow and grow. i need to put some items down on paper, from making my resolutions (i don't think i'll have as many this year as last. i want to be realistic) to some places i might want to go this year (chile, some national parks, DC). it is really good to have things to work for, plans in place. because everything i cross off the list becomes yet another sign of a life lived well.

i'm happy this christmas. i'm lucky and i've got so many people who love me and i love you guys back. my heart is full and for that i'm thankful.

i'll be back after the new year, with photos to share and lots of laughs had. i can't wait to be in the mountains with my friends. this really is the most wonderful time of the year. and it ended up being a good one.