Adios, 2009!

I distinctly remember where I was at the end of the last decade. We were spending the holidays in hometown and staying with the in-laws. And then both DH and PS got the flu. PS was 15 months old at the time and the sickest she had ever been. For that matter, DH was the sickest I had ever seen him. I think I spent the whole night taking care of the two of them.

Of course, there have been big changes in the last decade. We've added two more kids to our family, bought a house, I've gone from a SAHM to a lawyer, DH got his Master's, and our combined income has increased five-fold.

The last year has had plenty of changes too--and not all good. We learned that MIL's cancer had returned and that it is inoperable and incurable and that the new year will be her last.

I learned how harsh the legal field can be when I tired working 200+ hours/month for laughable wages and started looking for another job, only to have an offer fall through after my manipulative asshole former-boss refused to waive a conflict. But I refused to fall prey to his manipulation and quit my job in the middle of the worst economic downturn in my lifetime. I spent the summer questioning my sanity before ending up at a firm that offered a far better work environment and better pay. I am no longer the stepchild hidden in the closet, doing all the work and getting no credit. I speak directly with clients, make decisions about the direction of my cases, sign the pleadings I draft, and have bosses who actually consider and respect my opinion. Just this morning I took a document to my boss and he said, "I don't think you should do X, instead you should do Y." I said, "Well, I considered doing Y," and I explained why I did X instead. Big Boss said, "You're right, send it like it is." Evil former boss would never have given me the opportunity to explain my reasoning.

Oh, and I finally got to take my kids to Disney World--a trip I have been trying to take for at least 2 years.

I don't know what to expect in 2010. We know there will be sadness ahead. Hopefully less professional upheaval.

I really don't know what to expect over the next decade. We will surely lose more family members--my grandparents are now in their 80s. My children will all graduate high school and DH and I will be headed into our empty-nester years--and almost 25 years of marriage (it was 14 yesterday!). I will hopefully make significant professional accomplishments, travel, pay off my student loans (ok, that could be a pipe dream!)

I am generally happy with my life right now. I have good kids, I have a good husband, I have a good job, finances are decent and stand to get better. There's not much more I could ask for.