Welcome, 2007

The last two weeks of 2006 were an absolute tornado of activity for me: the ink had barely dried on my final exams before I was on a plane to spend Christmas weekend visiting my grandmother, who had just had surgery and required a bit of TLC. Of course, that meant hitting the poker tables, where I managed to wrest $100 out of the hands of one particular casino. Flying back to Oakland on Christmas Day, I raced home to prepare for the arrival of my oldest and dearest friend Michele, with whom I spent a delightful 48 hours cruising the after-Christmas sales (where I happily spent my poker winnings) and braving a particularly blustery afternoon in Golden Gate Park. Oh, and eating. And walking. And more eating.

Michele’s brief stay was followed within hours by that of another out-of-town visitor who wandered the city during the day while I returned half-heartedly to work. Last Saturday, I was back at the airport, this time flying to L.A. to spend New Year’s weekend with my sister and many friends. New Year’s Eve itself was wonderfully low-key: dinner and margaritas, followed by our friend Jeremy’s always-fabulous party. I spent the weekend with people I love and joyfully greeted the new year surrounded by friends, old and new.

On New Year’s Day, Michele’s 4-year-old daughter, Emma, enthusiastically decorated my cell phone with tiny rhinestone stickers. I left most of them right where she put them.

Over brunch on Sunday, some high school friends and I discussed the year that was trickling to a close and we each shared the opinion that it had been a good one. For me, 2006 was the best year in many--a reality that I try not to take for granted, in spite of feeling like I deserved it after slogging through a few thorny years. My move to San Francisco at the tail end of 2005 has proven to be an excellent decision on my part and I’m excited to become even more rooted here as the months pass.

I am enormously optimistic about what 2007 has in store for me, my family and my friends. Best of all, it’s another year for me to continue inching closer to achieving the goals that, at long last, I’ve clearly outlined for myself.

I’ve made no resolutions for 2007, only ambitions.

Posted by ayelet at January 3, 2007 03:59 PM