2017 was, in many ways, a bullshit year, politically and, for me, on a personal level. An uninsured driver totaled our only car, I got shingles, my husband’s grandfather passed, a number of friends went through and are still going through severe medical and financial crisis, and the list goes on. Good things happened too – I launched Glitch and people read and enjoyed it. I made new friends, and my students, who I am so proud of, learned to read, to write, to do math, and have meaningful conversations about what was important to them. Still, it’s hard not to look at the good weighed against the bad and look a little grimily at the last twelve months.
Here’s what I do know – I would not have made it, physically, emotionally or financially, were it not for my God-given community. I fight hard for these people, and they fight hard for me. We have each other’s backs. Because of that community, I survived 2017 and still have enough left over to raise my chin at 2018 and say “bring it.” I do not think honestly think that 2018 will be an easy year. That is not the age we live in. But I think I can count 2017 a success, not because it was easy, but because we fought and did not fall. May we do as well, and better, in the coming year.
