lions say 'ROAR!'

I just returned home from my parents house tonight, where we had early Christmas. It's always nice when the whole family is together. Even though we've already celebrated Christmas, the prospect of not having anything planned for Christmas proper is a little sad. In Germany, I spent new-years alone (a little bit different from Christmas), and it was kind of nice. I spent the evening reading a book (The island of the day before - by Umberto Eco). I finished the book about five minutes before midnight, and went for a walk. It was a cold foggy night, and everywhere I walked people were setting off fire crackers, and it started snowing right at midnight. It was a peaceful way to bring in the new-years, walking through the fog, snow, and the smell of gunpowder.

It seems strange to me that this year is just about over. It never ceases to amaze me how fast time can seem to go. I know a lot is different from this last January, and a lot has happened this last year, but at the same time I feel that nothing much has happened, or changed.
It has been both a really good year, and really challenging. There are things that I wished never happened, but since they did I hope never to forget them. There are things that I am still in awe over, and things I can still hardly believe. But this year isn't (quite) over yet!

As much as things have changed, things continue to change, no matter what, time drags on. I want time to slow down and let me sit for a minute, and I'm not allowed. I become anxious, and want to move along more quickly, and time won't let me. I am so excited, and so scared about this coming year, I almost don't want it to arrive, but it will, and I will walk through it (hopefully prepared and ready to face what comes, though it will come even if I'm not). I guess I still have to finish this year, and I suppose I might as well make the most of it while it's here.