Life moves in cycles. It is a river that runs of its own volition, that has its own inexorable pull. We can only hope to channel it for a while.
In the end we too will be swept up. There is no returning. Only exploration, resumption, rejection, love, and finality.
And so 2009 winds to its close.
In memory of the year that was and for the first time here on NotATameBlog…I now hand out the 3rd Annual Bob Awards. Here goes:
The 2009 Bravest Human Being I Know Award goes, yet again, to an Orange Grouper. Maddie risks life and limb every week by poking the caged tiger that is me. She steps on my toes, tries to push me over, makes fun of me for not fighting back…and gets away with it because she knows she absolutely makes my Sundays.
The 2009 Brother From Another Mother Award goes to as a group award to the guys of my small group. Every time we meet they challenge me, provide insight I could never have thought of on my own, and make me laugh. Ed, Fred, John, Todd, Don, Jim, and Lou have taught me so much…I could never adequately express my gratitude if I tried.
The 2009 Sister From Another Mister Award was close. Very close. But it goes to Katie. I had a blast on summer vacation. And she said some things that mean the world to me. That, and I had a fun time sticking those cards under her pillow.
The 2009 Best Person To Have Around When Sh*t Goes Down Award goes to the best Orange Group Leader there has ever been: Emily. Seriously. When it all goes down, I want this one right next to me.
The 2009 ES-Freaking-P Connection Award goes to my friend Ernest. We live a continent apart nowadays…but it amazes me how often our thoughts are on the same thing.
The 2009 This is Why I Hate Most Politicians Award goes to Dick Cheney. Shut up already old man. You flushed the Republic down the drain and now you dare to criticize someone else? You should wear a bag over your head in shame for the rest of your life.
The 2009 Book of the Year Award goes to Dan Simmon’s Drood. It is massive. It is sprawling. It is brilliant. No better tribute to Dickens could be written.
The 2009 Movie of the Year Award goes to The Fantastic Mr. Fox. The kids in the theater with me clearly did not get it…but I laughed like a madman through most of it.
The 2009 Album of the Year Award goes to (though it was released in 2008…I just listened to it this year) Appeal to Reason by Rise Against. Listening to some of these songs is like therapy for me. I love this album!
The 2009 Catchphrase of the Year Award goes to “We’ll find out.” I am sure I invented it long before 2009, but I have deployed it A LOT this year. May well be my last words some day.
The 2009 Hard-fought Lesson of the Year Award: Love does not wait. It comes like a wind and leaves nothing as it was.
Well…friends…I hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s awards. I hope you have a great 2010!