Ode to 2008

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Parented a four-year-old.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any resolutions last year, though I called it "The Year of P," in honor of the qualities I tried to achieve (peace, patience, presence, purpose). Despite the way this year has ended, I do have to say that I managed to cultivate peace in my life, more than I have since LG was born. I'll do something similar this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? There have been a number of babies born to people I know in the past year but no one incredibly close, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What countries did you visit? None.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A book contract. A baby on the way.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? None, really.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I suppose it would be getting through the third year review.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not getting pregnant, though I realize that's an event that I have very little control over and would rather not think of it as "failure."

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Run-of-the-mill colds and allergies and such. Nothing major.

11. What was the best thing you bought? 6 vials of LG's donor, to try for a sibling.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mother's, for dealing with all the nonsense with my siblings with grace, patience, and gentleness.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My sister's.

14. Where did most of your money go? Mortgage, daycare, fertility treatment.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Thinking I might be pregnant.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Hmmm. Well, I suppose it would be LG singing a song that includes the lyrics "the last time I freaked out" by Miley Cirus (courtesy of her preschool). My own song of the year was Sara Bareilles "Love Song."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? happier, the same (or slightly thinner), the same (or slightly richer, due to a hefty raise at the end of the year and LG's daycare cost finally going down)

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Yoga.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? I think I made pretty good use of my time, actually.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas on a train and then making phone calls to try to track down my lost laptop.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Nope.

22. How many one-night stands? None. Though I did have a short-lived flirtation that probably could have ended in a one-night stand had I chosen to pursue it.

23. What was your favorite TV program? Bones.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? My sister's fiance.

25. What was the best book you read? The best poetry: Billy Collins' Selected Poems. The best nonfiction: Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma. The best novel that I didn't read for class: Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake. I think.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Still listening to the same stuff, mostly.

27. What did you want and get? A stellar third year review and raise.

28. What did you want and not get? Pregnant.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? The only films I saw in a theater were Sex and the City and The X-Files: I Want to Believe. I'm sure I saw better films via Netflix, though nothing comes to mind.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 36 Thanksgiving weekend. My mom, my sister, LG and I went out for dinner. LG gave me a brown sweater and chocolate cake. It was nice, I suppose, but after going through a miscarriage on my thirtieth birthday, I have really low expectations.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Getting pregnant. Getting a book contract. (Could I say that again?)

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? College professor meets yuppie Gap mom. (Which is to say, not any different than it has been for the past four years or so. But since I didn't succeed in getting knocked up, I will be purchasing new black pants and/or a black suit, as well as some new black boots. Buying new clothes has been on hold for far too long.)

33. What kept you sane? LG. Yoga. My mom. Chats with Best Professor Friend.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Barack Obama. Duh.

35. What political issue stirred you the most? Umm, the election?

36. Who did you miss? My friends from out of town.

37. Who was the best new person you met? Honestly, some new students.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Slow down.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I'll fill this in if I think of one later.