I feel like the entire year started on a bad note. 2015, I love you but I’m not “in love” with you. There have been good times and bad times but it’s finally over and done with.

Recapping on the beginning of the year:

• New Years Eve: Such a great time as usual with friends. Dancing, singing, and just having fun together. The end of the night (or early morning) however was the beginning to an end to a possible friendship. I invited my ex (we only dated a few months) and we were singing to some YouTube songs. The songs we chose although innocent and fun triggered something inside his head where he thought it was about him. The songs in question were “I’ll Never Tell” from Buffy and “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago. Since they were about bad relationships that didn’t end well we were intentionally singing them at him. Several months later he went off the deep end, and moved away. I’m grateful for this tragic end to a possible friendship
• Monday Jan 5th: First day back to work after a long weekend. I get a phone call around 7:30am from my dad who tells me my aunt is in ICU on a respirator and oh, btw I was diagnosed with cancer. My aunt is fine which I’m very grateful but my dad went through a bitter battle with the disease and passed away in June. More on that later.
• We had a new roommate move in back in December of last year and by January I knew it wasn’t going to work for me. Mutually we all agreed it wasn’t the best living situation. This lead to several new roommates between January and now. 2 short terms due to their own issues with stuff going on in their lives leading to the current one who I’m extremely grateful that he’s here. He turned out to be the best one out of all of them and I’m really hoping he’s long term.
• In April I lost my job after 6 months there. I knew it wasn’t working out but I was hopeful. I left a 7 1/2 year job for this one because it seemed like a great choice. It was going to be challenging and could potentially lead me to places I wasn’t going at my previous job. Oh and it was more money. I’m am grateful that this job ended when it did and grateful that they paid for a week in Dublin Ireland. That was amazing. I’m grateful mostly because it gave me several months off and a visit in May to see my family (specifically my dad who was now in the hospital and very close to passing). It also provided me time in June to attend the funeral and be with my family at the time where we all needed each other the most. He will be missed but will live on in everyone he touched.
• After the funeral things started getting better. I landed a new job a week later that I’m still with today. I have been here 6 months, feel extremely comfortable and although not the best benefits in the world, they like me, value my thoughts, and appreciate my work. It’s funny how I can be at this job the same length of time as the one I lost yet it feels totally different.
• Around this same time I had several best friends move away. They are doing well in Portland and New Orleans and I always wish them all the happiness in the world however 4 friends that I was close to are now so far away. With that said I’ve become closer to some friends here who I now adore and couldn’t imagine not being around them. Perhaps I should be grateful for the push in a new direction which allowed me to meet new people and form new friendships while improving on those that may have been mediocre. I also have several besties that are still here and very grateful they haven’t left.

To sum up 2015, it was a trying year and one that I feel was needed. I don’t believe in religion but I do believe that the universe has a purpose and works in ways we may never understand. The rough beginning was in some way supporting me through an emotional time later on in the year which was going to come no matter what (for other reasons I will never know). It took care of me and made it possible to be there for my dad and family. I thank each and every one of you who have been my friend, supported me through out the good & bad, and continue to love me each day. I look forward to spending more time with all of you in 2016. Have a very happy new year no matter where you are.

With Love,
Desmond