The Elfin Blog

I suppose since it’s the last day of 2003, I ought to write something. I’ve put it here this year, instead of in Elfin Musings & Flights of Fancy, because this is a bit more random. This year has been a banner year, more than most, both for me and the world.

I got married this year. I went to California. I moved into a new apartment. I got a raise. I went to the dentist for
the first time in more than ten years. In fact, I visited the dentist several times as a result, but it wasn’t too bad. I continue to love my job. I didn’t have any skin cancer. I just brewed my first batch of homebrew (not counting Mr. Beer, which sucks). I have a good life. I have many people who love me and care about me. All in all 2003 was, by this reckoning, a great year. A big year. An important year.

The counting of my many blessings has been something I’ve doing a lot of lately. I am trying to remember to be thankful as much as possible, because so many people in this world have it so much worse. This thankfulness began when I randomly watched a really nice short documentary on HBO called Born Rich. While the movie was about the wonders and burdens of being young and massively wealthy, and I am certainly not wealthy, it made me consider all that I do have. In a similar vein, a new television show on FOX entitled The Simple Life is about two unbelievably rich young women being inserted into a middle class farming family. We get to see the hilarity ensue as the spoiled, slutty Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie try to deal with the horrible reality of hard work. While I actually have such a negative physical reaction to this show, and as such am only able to sit through 5 minutes or so
of it, this too made me consider both how lucky I am, and how ridiculously out of touch wealthy people can
be. Moreover, it made me upset to think that Americans find this kind of programming entertaining. Of course,
why wouldn’t it be a hit? I mean Paris Hilton, who has never actually done anything, is already a
celebrity.

I guess what I am trying to say here is that, as odd as it seems, the more I am reminded of all the stuff I have, the more I am reminded to be thankful for it. I mean, my life is pretty good (knock on wood) and I am just pretty happy about that. So 2003 has been good to me, and I am looking forward to 2004, despite the fact that I’ll be turning 30. I hope your 2003 has been at least as good as mine, and if not, I truly hope 2004 makes up for it. Happy New Year.