a year in review...

Ever since I was in 4th grade and realized that soon I'd be too old to have recess, I've realized that every year I live, I must make it better than the last.

Because I burned this whimsical, innocent, simple ideal into my mindset, I have become shaped by it. I once had a boyfriend, who, after we broke up, made fun of me to all his friends saying "she always has to make everything the best, the coolest, the weirdest." He made fun of my extreme optimism toward the world and attitude that it was actually POSSIBLE. That we could actually LIVE our most absurd dreams and ideas.

Well . . . though I cannot realistically decide whether or not my life has consistently seen better days since I made this pact with myself, I do believe life has consistently felt enjoyably crazy and hectic. And maybe that's what I've needed at this moment in my life: absurd chaos and frivolous, spontaneous pursuits.

It started in January when Heidi was moving out of our wonderful house. I was sad. Heidi and Matt had become a sort of roommate family, and now I had to say goodbye to them. Rachel moved in - an optimistic progressive thinker from Alaska, who sought out Boulder to climb, sponge in more about nutrition and massage and expand her horizons. She liked to play and laugh and do art. I couldn't have found a better person to surround myself with at the moment.

Then in February Andy came to visit. He showed up with perfect timing - right after Valentine's Day had ended and my work (a florist) had settled down from two weeks of madness. He brought more laughter, more insight and more music into my life. He fit right into my lifestyle of Boulder, and he knew it. We enjoyed sharing the mountains, the attitude, the openness and the artistry that Boulder so graciously volunteers time and time again. He inspired me in only the way he can and drove me to delve into my thesis with more passion and commitment than I thought possible in my reluctant, scattered mind.

In March, I started another venture: hoopdance. While writing my thesis and working as a florist, I practiced dancing and swirling and really enjoyed myself. My boss and I went to L.A. and became certified hoop instructors through Hoopnotica - the most advanced company in hoopdance in the world. I was proud of my odd, yet totally freeing achievement.

In April, I actually focused in my life. I think it might well be the longest I've focused in one amount of time. I finished my thesis and celebrated with my friends in the middle of the month for my birthday. I had friends from every speck of my life in Boulder at that party at the Fox Theatre, and I danced. I danced practically all night long. And I smiled. That's not too far off my personality.

In May I began my new job with Autumn Teneyl Designs. I started the month off by traveling Colorado, New York, Pittsburgh... then wrapped it up with the first diet I have ever successfully accomplished. My roommates and I did a two week detox that actually worked and made me feel good. It was a good way to start off a summer of traveling and "modeling".

I started off June in Telluride, then Salida, then Telluride again and then Taos, New Mexico. The traveling aspect was new to me. The meeting new people every weekend was new to me. The freedom and solitude of traveling alone was all new to me. I loved it.

In July, I finished off grad school with my last week of the summer writing program. Gans flew in from Colorado. We were Bob Holman's sidekick for the week. Tim was participating in the SWP as well. Chelsea moved to Boulder. It was a week of more newness.

That weekend, Chelsea and I and our totally new friend Alex drove to Steamboat Springs, then Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I got in my first car accident ever. Autumn's van was totaled and I was shaking for three days. I drove my first UHaul, shared a tent with two stranger friends and enjoyed every second of the rest of our trip.

August was when my parents, brother and aunt came to visit for my parent's 30th anniversary. I loved sharing the mountains and my Boulder world with them. We ate at the Cheesecake factory for their anniversary and true love re-instilled itself in my heart.

I was in Oregon and Seattle for the beginning of September. My backpack was stolen, along with Leland, my computer and my favorite necklace. I spent time with some of the most amazing people I will ever meet (they are all biking to Costa Rica as I type, and I respect them more than I can type.)

I re-met Dan in September. Granted, it was under awful circumstances. My father had serious back surgery and I flew back last minute to surprise him and nurse him. I called Dan before my flight back and we decided we should hang out. I am inexplicably glad we decided to hang out again.

In October, I held three jobs: database entry girl for Free Speech TV; poetry teacher for 7th graders at a Waldorf School and ATD rep for the world. I was atomic tangerine crayon for Halloween.

November was another adventure month, where Dan accompanied me on another one of my trips across Colorado. We went to Aspen, Salida, Crested Butte, Telluride (Obama was elected President of the United States), Dolores, Pagosa Springs, Moab, UT, Park City and Salt Lake City Utah. We had a phenomenal time and I wish we could do it all over again 50 more times.

And in December, Dagny passed away. She was the best kitty in the entire world and I still love her like she's alive. Unfortunately, this was not only the most monumental thing to happen to me in December, but possibly in 2008. She was my sidekick, my buddy who was always there when I came home and I loved her like one would love a best friend or a family member. She had a spark in her that made her more human than animal and everyone saw it.

2008 was a great year. Did it beat out years past? I can't really judge because life is a wave of ups and downs and ins and outs and I truly wouldn't appreciate the sweet parts of life without the sour parts. 2008 had lots of sweets and sours, so it seemed more extreme than other years. Perhaps that is why I can look back on it with such fondness.