I do apologize for the lack of posts since before Christmas. Without my own home computer, finding time to write has been a bit of a challenge!
When I look back on this year 2009, it had a lot of challenges for me personally. It's been a rather challenging last two years, come to think of it. Due to depression and extreme anxiety, I tried to do away with myself in late 2007. As you can see, it didn't work; I am still in 'the land of the living', thanks to family and very good friends (and you know who you are). At the same time, however, when one deals with the local Social Service agencies--when one hasn't had to deal with them before--it was a confusing and sometimes hazardous trip! I was working with a whole bunch of different agencies, and going from pillar-to-post. But now, I have everything I need with one non-profit agency, and they've been a huge help in so many ways!
One of the good things that took place this year was having my own apartment again. Due to the above-mentioned depression, I lost the apartment I'd been living in for nearly 15 years in 2008. I was living with family until spring of this year, when I had to leave, but had nowhere to go, and I ended up spending a couple of months in a women's shelter. THAT was an eye-opening experience (which I may share a little in another blog post): but one which I needed to go through. Eventually, thanks to the above-mentioned non-profit agency, I now live at an apartment complex in the outer suburbs, among some very interesting fellow residents! It feels great to have my own space once more.
The world around me hasn't changed terribly much in 2009; there is still a lot of conflict and such. Just today, I learned that four Canadian soldiers and a civilian journalist were killed in Afghanistan by one of those wretched 'improvised explosive devices' (what a way to describe a weapon of murder!). This means four more brave CDF members will be coming home via the Highway of Heroes in Ontario. I wish I could be there myself, to pay tribute!
Of course, we will be inundated by all the news shows and their retrospectives about 2009. And a lot of it will be about 'celebrities' and well-known people who have passed on, or have gotten mired in scandal of one sort or another. I hope that there won't be hours-long 'tributes' to Michael Jackson: it seemed that everywhere one looked, there were constant news stories about the guy. I thought that, if I saw one more, I would scream!! One would have thought that was the ONLY story worth reporting on! Yes, he was a very gifted musical artist. But he was also a wacko, or had turned into a wacko, and became a very sad man. And as for scandal: can someone say "Tiger Woods"? I do my best not to look at those idiotic supermarket tabloids, supposedly detailing some new wrinkle in the mess. Can we just let Tiger and his wife work out their issues in private? Or is that too much to ask?
OK--I promised this year-end entry won't be a screed. But I do hope that, in 2010, I will be able to refine my blog, and make it a place where visitors can read about historical subjects, and how they might impact the world around them. So let me wish all my readers and visitors a VERY HAPPY 2010. May you and yours be safe if you're going out to celebrate this evening, and may all your fondest wishes and dreams come true.
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