I am really sorry for those who had a terrible year last year. I know how that can be. I had a terrible run from 1996 to 2001. I'm not even sure how I survived 1998, 1999, or 2001, but I did.
Really, the last three months of 2008 were worse than anything I experienced in 2009, though losing my job last March was a pretty difficult thing and being broke is not much fun. I will also miss Trixie's Coffee House.
Yet, overall, 2009 has been a year of blessings: Spook asked me to marry him, I have been given a second chance to be a part of my daughter's life, I have gained many happy additions to my circle of friends, my best friends were married, a few other friends also married this past year, other friends of mine had a daughter, and I think I have had more days of bliss last year than in many other years prior combined.
For everyone, those for whom 2009 sucked shit through a swizzle stick and regurgitated it into their open mouths, and those for whom 2009 brought great joys, may 2010 be better than anything you've yet known.