Be Cool

As of last night, 2009 has gathered a sense of foreboding around it for me.

I was feeling great about the new year, all two thousand and FINE!, but a couple of people have posted up horoscopes for 2009 and, while I don't really believe in that, I also don't really like to read about how my career, insofar as it is a career, is going to blow up.

Last night, when we arrived at New France, Jennifer (hon. mem. New Prague) and Michael (emperor dictator, New France) said their happy new years, had their hugs, and Jennifer said "I'm worried about 2009. 2008 was great. I don't know if 2009 can be that good. I'm worried it's going to suck."

I got kind of a tight feeling in my chest when she said that.

2008 was great, for a whole bunch of reasons, but it was slightly tumultuous and stressful for me. I'd be pretty happy if 2009 were clear sailing. I don't want my career to blow up, I don't want my love life to be dramatic.

I can feel that whatever lives in my sternum is starting to chew on that worry, is kneading it into smooth elastic ball it is planning to set aside and let rise.

And that's where Michael's credo came in. He's been calling it a resolution, but it's really more of a mantra for those of us who tend to get worked up over nothing. Be Cool. 2009 might suck. Nothing I can do about that except, Be Cool.

What happens will happen, and no sense worrying about it now, no sense worrying something into existence.

As an aside, last night was perfect fun. I'm hoping Jennifer will post her pictures and tell funny stories about it when she posts later today.

What I will tell you is that there was friendly gossip and rice wraps, there was soup and huge bowls of pad thai. Our dessert had dessert. The conversation was unruly, scattered and intertwined. At one point I was forced to yell "I WEAR PANTS!" and then say, into the silence that followed it, "I can't even believe I had to say that." Then we all roared and ate more chocolate.

Good times.