Happy New Zzzzz...

Well, I'm back from the ATL (or the boring suburbs thereof). It took me most of the stay to get over my cold, but it's not like I had to go anywhere or do anything strenous. The only real duties I had were present wrapping, filling and emptying the dishwasher and making the occasional breakfast for Nannie. (M's family spell it "Nana," due to some cute spelling error in M's youth, but I have a hard time writing it that way, since my own grandmother was called Nana with the usual pronunciation.)

Although I had a great visit with the others, particularly M's mom, we mainly went there to spend time with Nannie, who is 92. Until Poppie died, more than a year ago, she was doing quite well for someone of that age - especially since she had been ill on and off for much of her earlier life. Now, as often is the case when one partner goes, she's beginning to dteriorate. Her lungs need treatment several times a day, her hearing and vision are going and she's starting to forget things. She's still fun to talk with though, and will come up with smart answers and memories often - they just get mixed in with the "off" ones.

I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a partner of so many years and keep on living. M says that she feels that when Nannie is fully ready to go, she will. Not too long ago I would have said the same thing, but since my herniation and operation I seem to have taken an agnostic turn, and have fears that whatever hardships we endure are all random. My spiritual outlook is staring to improve recently, but I can't help but feel sad for Nannie. I truly do hope she enjoys her life somewhat, still - and I hope that death comes when we are ready for it.

On that gloomy note, I have no particular plans for New Year's Eve, yet. This is because I am now both Old and a Curmudgeon (the two go together so naturally, you see). M's been tired a lot, too, but at least she has a recently discovered thyroid imbalance to blame - I'm just boring and cranky. If someone suggests something I may be up for it, but if we stay home and drink sparkling apple juice before falling asleep at 11:35, so be it. I haven't heard of anything going on, so that's what I suspect will happen.

As for greeting the new year, I don't do resolutions (I always figure if you're really going to do something, why wait until the arbitrary date of January 1 to do it?), but we are planning to join a local gym in the coming month. We figure they will probably be having specials then, so that's the time to do it. I'm hoping to get a little more active in 2006, but we shall see.

In the meantime, I can exercise my thumbs on my new Madden 2006 game (which is frustratingly more difficult than the 2005 edition) and my Christmas iPod, when it finally arrives. I may be flabby, but my grip must be getting more and more impressive.

Whatever your plans for the holiday, have a good one, and an awesome New Year. Here's a toast to limited curmudgeonliness...