Friday, January 1, 2010

Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind

Should old acquaintance be forgot

And days of auld lang syne*


I am writing to you from the future. It is already 2010 in China and, so far, it’s been a pretty good year. All ten and a half hours of it.

Last night Buffin and I went to dinner with Liz, Ashley, Betsy, Stephanie and Scott in Taikang Lu, a block of shikumen houses that has been remodeled into shops and restaurants. Afterward, we met up with Josh and Becky at Bulldog for a 100 kuai, all-you-can-drink fest. We rang in the New Year and were cabbing it home by 1:30. Post late-night popcorn snack and spontaneous dance party in Buff’s bedroom, I was fast asleep. Maybe not the kind of raucous New Year’s Eve one would expect from a twenty-something, but I feel like I’ve turned over a new leaf here in China – an old-lady-in-the-body-of-a-twenty-three-year-old kind of leaf. And I like it. I think you’ll be seeing more of her in 2010.

Now, I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions – too much pressure and guilt. So, these aren’t resolutions. No, they’re more like very loosely based goals.

  1. Finally learn to drive stick. The fact that I can’t has been slowly killing my dad.
  2. Try to stop correcting people’s grammar and general knowledge so often. I don’t think I’m making any new friends with this habit. Hey, I said I’d try...
  3. Be a better sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend.
  4. Find a job that is challenging and fulfilling. This one’s kind of important.
  5. Learn to cook something other than a grilled cheese and cereal.
  6. Start dancing again. I miss that part of myself.
  7. Spend more time up in Hunt. I’m a happier person when I’m there.
  8. Talk to God more and find a church where I feel like I belong.
  9. Read more books. On the list: the Brontë sisters’ Jane Eyre + Wuthering Heights.
  10. Stop being so hard on people, including myself – especially myself.


Here’s to a happy and healthy New Year!


*Does anyone understand this song? It has always confused me.

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