Since I've been feeling restrospective and went strolling through blogs belonging to friends of friends, I thought I'd post this (stolen from a friend of Sober Sophomore). I present, for your reading pleasure, my year in review according to the first sentence of each month on this blog.

January: Well, since Anchorite tagged me, how can I refuse? [Followed by six weird things about me]

February: As I was cruising the blogrings during my afternoon rehearsal break, I wandered across these in the Sober Sophomore's blog. [Encouraging quotes from St. Francis de Sales]

March: I think that tomorrow I will be making ventures into soup making for the first time, with either "St. Basil's Soup" or "Soupe Sainte Scholastique."

April: As usual, it's been forever since I've posted here. [Followed by, "I've been up to various, sundry things, like history projects, final concerts, and job searching."]

May: One of the many reasons why I thoroughly enjoyed Renaissance and Reformation History with Dr. Wessley this semester!

June: I'm continuing my life as a liturgical musician as . . . periodic organist/player of ghastly electric pianos if I can't learn organ in time (so I will learn in time!) for a local monastery.

July: Yes, unless my calendar deceives me, I haven't written in here for a month. [Followed by, "The organ gig that I was so enthused and stressed about turned out rather underwhelming in the end."]

August: The one and only Mudcat Cafe.

September: The "real world" has caught up with me at last!

October: Congratulations are in order for Linny Jane on the completion of her novel!!

November: Can anybody get me up to speed on the latest about the universal indult I'm hearing whispers of?

December: It is the winter solstice: the darkest day of the year.

Interesting.

Ch-ch-changes.

Yesterday's interview went very well. So well, in fact, that I am the newest proofreader at York Stenographic Services and am slated to begin my new position on January 2nd. They had origingally hoped to start me next week, but the higher-ups seemed less than excited about hiring someone three days before the end of the year. Can't think why. ;)

I'm quite excited! To finally be full-timed employed in one of my fields is a hard-won dream. It took long enough, for crying out loud, and I endured a few months of extremely hard times emotionally, spiritually, and financially before arriving here. And I am so thankful to have finally made it to this place. I cannot wait to see what comes next, once I actually begin working.

Most of my dreams are rather plebian: pay down some debt, get a computer, visit the eye doctor (after entirely too long time away), save some money, get my own place. Some are less earthy: find my place in the world, carve out a niche for myself, live a full and generous life once I can meet my own very "bleh" financial obligiations.

I must confess, to my shame, that while I am thrilled and thankful, I am also a little bit afraid. I am afraid that when I am consumed day in and day out with making money so I can make a comfortable life, I'll lose my dreams and my drive, my restlessness that pushes me to seek beyond the surface. I'll fall into a routine of work and teaching and have no real time left for amusement or enjoyment. I'm afraid I'll be consumed by my dayjob and forget how to be a musician. Seriously. I'm afraid I'll forget how to look at the world around me and be awed by it.

But I am thankful for this opportunity and plan to seize it with both hands and just take life a day at a time. That's all any of us can ever do, really . . .

Happy Solstice

It is the winter solstice: the darkest day of the year. I never looked at it that way, though. I always saw it marking the beginning of days lengthening again, a kind of pre-herald of hope.

This year, it is also one of the brightest days I've had in a while, as far as good news goes. I have an interview tomorrow with a local stenography firm for a full-time proofreader position! They sound almost already decided on hiring me, making tomorrow's meeting the final thing to "seal the deal," if you will. I'm so incredibly hopeful that everything will go well. This would be the answer to many prayers, from many people.

Please, Lord . . .