"Don't Let Me Into This Year With An Empty Heart"

This song by Josh Ritter and Cara's post have inspired me to write a little new year's ode to the oh-eight. In lovely list format, here is a partial sampling.

• Eleven Hundred Springs sang to me on my birthday.
• I survived my first year of teaching and loved it. I loved my team and attached to my kids.
  
• One kid completely made my year. The one everyone told me wouldn't work and would never pass.
  
• He gave me his first gift to a teacher, blue christmas ornament earrings that were tacky and I was allergic to them, but I wore them all week. (technically this was 07 I guess...)
  
• He passed all three TAKS tests.
• ok, enough about him, but that was a highlight.
• Roadtripped to Memphis and Nashville with Lisa, Batey, and Tiny E.
• Got a Wii and started rocking Guitar Hero like a 12 year old boy.
  
• I got a puppy - Delia - and it's been a love/hate relationship ever since. Precious pain in the butt.
• Saw Avenue Q with Jen.
• Went camping.
  
• Lived in a trailer house out in the country for 3 months.
• Realized I could live alone successfully.
• Got my first apartment by myself.
• Started second year of teaching.
• Was team mom for a soccer team.
• Made lots of cupcakes and rice krispy treats.
  
• Spoke a lot more Spanish.
• Break-up.
• Was sad.
• Disliked second year of teaching.
• Got to be Einstein for Halloween (my 2nd dream costume. Ms. Frizzle was #1)
  
• Saw Ryan Adams.
• Saw Jason Mraz.
• Trip to Denver to see New Kids on the Block.
• Ate my words and read twilight. Then saw the movie at midnight.
• Lost touch with more people than I should have.
• Reunited with some college friends that I hadn't seen in way too long.
• Watched one of my best friends move to Colorado.
• Got to call the sheriff and report loose livestock on the road. Also a highlight.
• Started being nicer to my sister's boyfriend. (call me a saint)
• Watched my Dad graduate college.
  
• Felt too young.
  
• Felt too old.
• Cried hard.
• Laughed harder.
• Almost missed a plane by doing the last activity too long in a diner in Colorado.

Here's hoping for more of the last in 2009.

Josh Ritter-Empty Hearts