Another Year Has Gone By

I can barely believe that I have been blogging here for a year.  I have made 171 posts, and had 6500 visitors.  Writing here was one of the best parts of 2011 for me.  I thought I would write about scales and group lesson ideas and tips for having a great hand position at the piano, and while I do enjoy writing about those things, what I have loved the most is writing about my family, my faith (or lack thereof at any given moment) and the ups and downs of life.

New Year's Day in Texas was always a blue day for me.  The holidays were over and I missed my family and more often than not there was some disappointing Texas Dance Hall New Year's Eve gig hanging over my head.  The general routine was for me to be alone on stage at midnight playing Auld Lang Syne while the guys in the band all went out and danced with and smooched their sweeties.  Then --pack up, get in the car and get the heck out of there before the drunks figured out it was time to go home. For the six years I lived by myself in Austin--New Year's Day was a lonely day.

Fast forward thirteen years and now New Year's Eve is spent with treasured friends--talking, eating too much and watching our kids play.  Smooching my own hubby at midnight.

New Year's Day 2012?  Could I have a moment alone. . . . please???  Ten minutes alone?  What I wouldn't give to shower without interruption in my lonely Austin apartment. . . the grass is always greener.

Not really.  Family life is infinitely greener than living alone.  I'm thankful for the interruptions.  Oh the blessed interruptions. . . I'm thankful for my family and friends near and far, and I'm thankful for my husband, even when he interrupts me when I am trying to write. . . . ahem ahem. . .

For I have learned in whatever state I'm in to be content.  That might be Texas, or Iowa, or Minnesota.  It might be alone or it might be during the 20th interruption while I try to dry my hair.  But, today, New Year's Day, I'm thankful I'm not alone.  Here's to you Bill. . .

So many 25th's of December

Just as many 4th of July's

And we're still holding it together

It only comes down to you and I

I know that you can still remember

Things we said right from the start

When we said that this could be special

I'm keeping those words deep down in my heart

Another year has gone by

And I'm still the one by your side

After everything that's gone by 

There's still no one saying goodbye

Though another year has gone by

Recorded by Celine Dion--written by Bryan Adams and Eliot Kennedy. . I notice it came out in 1998--it was a very good year. . . here's a youtube link:
Another Year Has Gone By