02 January 2008

2007 in Review

It must be admitted that 2007 was an eventful year, although in reality, many of the years of my (or anybody's) life can be classified as "eventful" in one way or another. I had some good times, and some hard times. Upon reflection, I came up with a few things I hope to NOT see in 2008.

5. Laptop on the fritz - Okay, this is more of an inconvenience than anything. Compared to huge problems like war or pestilence, for example, my non-functioning laptop is pretty minor. And yet... it matters to me! I don't have access to my files, and I can't just move my computer and sit wherever I want, to blog and chat and browse to my heart's content.
4. Morning sickness - Yes, it is as unpleasant as everyone says it is. And the term "morning sickness" is so terribly misleading, seeing as how "all-day sickness" would be more accurate. Nausea, headaches, exhaustion, occasional dizziness: It's like having most of the symptoms of a bout of malarial infection.
3. Enduring a police lock-down while trapped with several irritating middle school students - In retrospect, this wasn't actually that bad. It lasted only a matter of hours, and it makes for a good story. But I wouldn't want to live through it again.
2. Living without my husband for several weeks - While pregnant. Not fun.
1. Cleaning up after a dead body - I've done cadaver clean-up many times. I was a lab TA for biology courses during my undergrad years. However, on this particular occasion in 2007, there was no tidy formaldehyded cadaver in a body bag. We had to clean up blood from the ground, after someone shot himself. I came to the conclusion that while films, TV, and video games can inure us to violence, to the sights and even the sounds of gory death, the actual experience of death will still be horrifying, because (to my knowledge) no movie has ever duplicated the smells of death. Most unpleasant. For the record: If you ever have a need to perform this task, I recommend first putting down a layer of kitty litter, to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Then, make a strong bleach solution and pour it over the area to be cleaned; repeat with a few applications of bleach solution, as necessary; rinse with at least twice with clean water. Note: The bleach will generally wither most plants it comes into contact with, but isn't it preferable to have a few sections of unhappy grass than a blood-covered area in your yard?

I have plenty to anticipate in 2008. I wonder if "labor and childbirth" will make it onto next year's list of top 5 things I don't want to experience again. We'll find out, as Fuzzy makes his appearance in the world in mid-February. This year, I'll be focusing on home life, for the most part, and plan to really make it a priority to keep in touch with family and friends and let you all know how important you are to me. I am not, by nature, a demonstrative or even very communicative person, but as I grow older, I'm finding that I finally have an urge to reach out and maintain relationships.

5 comments:

Willow said...

Happy New Year!
I reread your lock down story. You can tell the story to your grandchildren. I'll tell Fuzzy about the gunshots along the alley at my school.

word verification: dogqf

Sher said...

How horrifying your #1 is. I'm so sorry you had to go through this experience.

I hope your labor and delivery are quick and easy. Mine had complications, but still ended up being a good experience over all. And, at least for me, it is true that the joy of the little one overcomes any remembrance of the pain you felt.

Sher said...

oh, and I really hope to be one of the people you keep in touch with! :o) I'm trying, too!

Barbara said...

Just came over from Willows Cottage to visit some family blogs.
Very discriptive clean up. I am a blogging friend of Linda's.

Debbie said...

It was a crazy difficult year. For your readers, yours is a minimalist, sweet and tidy telling. You don't mention you were already several weeks pregnant doing that clean up. Nor mention the horrific incongruity between cousins crying while eating Kentucky Fried Chicken and Marie Calendar Pie, and Deb digging blood and gravel into bags in the backyard.
Also, it was 12 weeks without your husband. It was a long time. You did that well.
Plus, in the midst of all the trauma and grief in your own life, you were my right hand man, supporting me through the past six months. You and Jeff were the ones who literally held me up when I cried at Gpa's funeral, and you and Fuzzy were the ones who held me when I cried when Patty died. You smoothed many days and many sticky situations and you grew through it all. Thank you for the difference you made in my 2007. Debbie