Looking Back

I just spent the longest Christmas vacation I had. My last official working day for 2008 was Dec 18 and I was expected to report back on Jan 5, 2009.

It's Jan 5 today but I still didn't report for work. Nope it's not just vacation hangover. But I must admit it's a part of it.

For 18 days, I did so many things and shut out work from my mind. It was certaily a very interesting almost-three-weeks. Filled to the brim with activities. Not one out of those days was I just home. No complaints, though.

Had holidays dinners, shopped, went to Dapitan and Dangwa for baskets and flowers, did a little sideline, drove for my mom, did grocery, went to mass went to Oroquietta to hunt for cherubims, watched a couple of movies, searched for a dress to wear for my mom's conferment ceremony, recorded for an MTV, brought my nephews to RX, delivered gifts, finshished the Twilight series, did an NCIS marathon.

All these activities I did on top of my usual holiday tasks: planning and conducting the games for Christmas and preparing for all the holiday meals.

yep, I'm tired. But satisfied. For once, I lived. I threw away my home-office-home routine.

I was on the road a lot. But generally, it was a breeze. With half of manila off to holidays destinations, the streets were un-congested.

During a dinner with a very good friend, she asked me how I would chracterize 2008. Had to think about it for a bit. In all the flurry, I didn't really stop to do what I usually do around year-end: look back on the year that was. But the question was posed. So after a short pause, I gave my reply.

2008 was a year of recovery for me. Recovery from the unwise decisions I made, recovery from the effects of those decision. I have started a solid foundation for 2009 and 2010. They are what I'd like to think of as the period I will achieve the 4th phase of my life. 40 is the new 30, isn't that what people say?