2010; sounds like a year out of a science fiction movie. Today we celebrate a new year and a new decade. Hard to believe it’s 2010! I remember when I was a kid thinking how ancient I would be in the year 2000! Well, now I’m 10 years older. The young get old and the old get cold…
On the home front, the boys went from 6 to 16 in what seemed like the blink of an eye. They have changed in many ways, but largely – because of their disabilities – some things have not changed at all. The reality that our children will soon be adults and we won’t be around forever to care for them is a constant worry. We are beginning to plan for their future and hoping the boys will be able to stay at home. We will need to gradually add staff, as we get too old to care for them. They are so vulnerable and dependent on others. We need to get all the necessary supports in place to be sure they are taken care of after we are gone.
Looking back on the past 10 years, the toughest part of this decade for us had nothing to do with the boys, it was a near-death accident that I had back in 2002 and the complications that followed. This is a long story that really needs it’s own post. But let me just say that this accident drained a lot from our emotional reserve, which tends to run near empty much of the time. Physically, I haven’t gotten back to where I was before the accident and probably never will.
Continuing with this rather depressing post, Time Magazine dubbed this “The Decade From Hell”. Not a whole lot of good news in the past 10 years. Things started going down-hill with the election of George W. Bush (who didn’t really win). I can’t help wondering where the US would be now if Gore had become president. Than came 9/11, and then we invaded Afghanistan. We never did find that bin Laden guy. Then on to the Iraq disaster and Bush’s re-election. Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people. Add to this the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia, the tsunami, Katrina, the Virginia tech shooting, the recession, the swine flu, what did I miss? Ugggg…. When I started this post, I didn’t plan on it being such a downer. 🙁
But on the bright side, Obama was elected and he brings us “hope” for “change” in the new decade. Hope may not be enough, but at least we have someone sane and intelligent in the White House. All things considered, I’m still an optimist with my cup of life half-full. Looking at the big picture, I’m pretty lucky and looking forward to 2010.
