How quickly I forget

Last night I was struck by the memory of how incredibly sad I was last year. From the start of the year in Vietnam, well into the third quarter of the year in Washington, was an extraordinarily sad time for me, for many reasons, only some of which I can explain. Our childhood home was sold, dad's illnesses worsened, mean aunts, challenging responsibilities, uncertainty, family deaths... I cried a lot.

I've been embraced in such a nurturing environment over the last four months that I completely forgot how much grief I felt a year ago. 2005 was tremendously difficult but ended on a stunning high. I can't remember when the sadness left me, but it's comforting to know I've got plenty of happiness to come ahead.