I knew from the outset that 2008 would take a toll, but it’s already outdone itself. It’s what, less than seven weeks in, and so far: my grandpa has died, leaving the rest of us to sort out the rather complicated emotional relationships he formed; my MIL has been in the hospital and is entering a transitional time in her health and living arrangements, resulting in some necessary Inordinately Grownup Activities for Mister Husband; a dear grad school friend was teaching in the building next to the one where the NIU shootings occurred; and a lovely old blog friend has been laid off in a rather awful way. So have two of my very smart nontrad students.

And while clearly the world is not all about me and my petty work issues, the fact that I am evidently dissertating ADD-stylee is also a factor for me. I am under the (probably mistaken) impression that Certain Other People begin at the beginning of these things, go on until the end, and then stop. I, on the other hand, have parts of every chapter and am always and forever filling in the blanks, or piecing my quilt together, or whatever metaphor works on whatever day. Maddening.

There are still good things, of course. 2008 has also been kind enough to dump some exciting professional opportunities on my doorstep along with all this other grownupness. Most of the friends and family are really doing quite well. My two Internet nieces appear to be lovely and smart — certainly the loveliest, smartest babies on Flickr. The world remains full of curiosities. New snow keeps falling with some regularity. I have a new plant, and one of the old ones I butchered and repotted is finally recovering. We in this house have discovered cheese fondue and watched a long string of excellent movies. Good people abound in the world, and I am honored to have so many of them in my life.

Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting,
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.