Looking Back and Reveling.....

This morning I got up late (it IS the week of sleep after all) and curled up in the living room with the laptop and my coffeemilk, Ernie across the room with the paper.  Later we went to the grocery store where I did my father proud and bought all sorts of things on impulse.  Ernie shook his head and paid for it all.  He took me to Fries and Peanuts for a drink and we sat and talked.  I mentioned that I'd been thinking about the past year, and as we talked, we came to an agreement that this is the best year we've had since 2003.

Wow.

Two thousand and freaking THREE.  That's coming up on NINE years ago.

2004 was the year that saw Ernie's cancer diagnosis and the beginning of his treatment, his mother's death and the beginning of my father's decline into Alzheimer's.  Two years of cancer treatment but by then we were thick into caring for my father and mother, the next year was Judi's diagnosis, the following year was my father's death (literally while Ernie was in the hospital), Judi went into hospice, the next year her death and my mother's miserable decline...the following year her death and trying to deal with all the various estate issues.  This year?  Well.....not so bad!  We certainly have our worries but Ernie's cancer seems to be under control and our boys---apart from normal concerns---are pretty freaking amazing.

May I saw WOW again?

Happy New Year all......

Favorite Shows of the Year off the top of my head----please add yours!

Fats and Kristi Rose, December, at our house

Jason Eady, December, at The Spot

Eric Brace and Peter Cooper, various evenings online at StageIt.com

Billy Joe Shaver, November, at the Rosebowl

Rod Picott and Amanda Shires, November, at our house

The Jans Project, October, at Cowboy Monkey

Tommy Womack, September, at our house

Ellnora Guitar Festival, September, at Krannert Center

David Olney and Sergio Webb, August and on Tuesday evenings online at Ustream.com

Rod Picott in Lubec, Maine, July

Jimmie Dale Gilmore and the Wronglers, June, Castle Theater

David Olney in Nashville, June

Joe Ely in Nashville, June

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, June, Watseka Theater

Eric Brace, Peter Cooper and Phil Lee, House Concert at the Bedfords in Springfield

Phil Lee and Tom Mason, April, at our house

Pat DiNizio, March, at our house

Martyrs with Matt Brandabur and Friends (Kenny Draznik/Jimmy Wald and Andrew Wilcoski, am I forgetting anyone?) at Highdive