thoughtfulThis year, I had my lip ripped off, I got plumbed for kidney stone, I lost 23 pounds. I had one of the best summer camp experiences in memory, and I lost the last aunt of my parents' generation. My family got unceremoniously booted out of our RenFair guild, and My Daughter may have found The One. I have been depressed and frustrated and angry enough to scream, and I have seen My Wife as happy with her life as she's ever been. My little stick-figure webcomic has been received well, mostly, and I have lived week after week trying frantically to just catch up with work and chores and tasks and projects. My Son is doing splendidly at college, and every time I look in my garage, I've lost more space to other peoples' stuff. My Friends list in LiveJournal has grown, I've snarfed "Girl Genius", and I have two greyhounds who feel the world was created so that I could take them out for walkies. Every day, I fight enough character flaws to fill Wikipedia, and I've received friendship and love in spite of them.
I'm still above ground; many people I respected or loved are no longer.
At the end of "Shadow Dancing", Dr. Franklin explains the epiphany that ended his walkabout. I can't remember the exact diagloue, but it's something like:
And then I realized what I am.
So what are you?
Alive. Everything else is negotiable.
I don't think I could say it any better. So I won't try. Safe journey to all. Write if you find work.
