As I look back on this past year (something we inevitably do because we are humans and not goldfish) I feel like I only had half of a year, because the first six months were given to cancer.

January to June was nothing but cancer. I know I said I wouldn’t talk about it anymore, but hey, it did dominate my life for 181 days solid (and still floats in the background now, and will for at least the next five years thanks to medical due diligence). Frankly, this pisses me off.

But, I will say this – I am grateful to cancer for one thing… ok, two things, the first being not killing me, but the SECOND thing is creating a sense of urgency and imbuing deep value into every moment I’ve lived since.

Where I used to be totally fine with lazing a day away with the old adage, “Eh, I can do that later”, now I find myself going, “No, wait, maybe I CAN’T do that later. I should totally do that NOW.”

I’ve become a lot more efficient and less willing to pass up opportunities.

On the domestic-side of things, I’ve become a better housekeeper and better weekly meal-planner, so no more pile up in the sink and much less more wandering the aisles at Safeway with my wife going, “I dunno… what do you want?”

On the fun side of things, if I see ads for a live-show or a convention I want to attend, I book the tickets and GO. If my wife comes up with a sudden idea for super-fun-time-right-this-second, I take her up on it. We live a little more in the spontaneous lane and it is awesome.

On the smart side of things, I actually plan for the future now. I pay my bills IN ADVANCE. I have savings. This is an amazing feat unto itself. I’m counting calories (not as much as I should, but I’m getting better at it). My wife and I are actually taking serious baby-steps toward home buying (something I had historically dragged my feet on). We’re working together to figure out a health regimen for both of us. I lost six months of my life and I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose any more.

But thanks to that crap-tastic 181 days these things happened over the next 184:

1. We went to Geek Girl Con… and it ROCKED!!
2. I gave a lift to three hitchhiking tourists and didn’t die!
3. We saw Keith Apicary Live, and we danced like idiots with him. And it ROCKED!
4. We attended ZomBcon… and it was OK.
5. We saw Wil Wheaton and Paul and Storm Live… and they ROCKED!!
6. We saw The Muppets opening day and again two days later and it ROCKED TWICE!!
7. I visited NYC, ate the meal of my life, sang with Jimmy Fallon, schmoozed with a bunch of drunk Santas, saw a show about D&D (and it had actually had a DRAGON!!), and saw Follies with Bernadette Peters… and the entire experience FREAKING ROCKED!!
8. And on New Year’s Eve tomorrow night, for the first time in YEARS, my wife and I will be attending an actual party. Bonus – it’s with two of our friends we also haven’t seen in years. This ROCKS!

I will now pause to break into a warbling rendition of the Journey song, Don’t Stop Believing…

And I’m back!

I am so excited for next year I’m actually afraid to say just how excited I am lest I jinx it, or Murphy makes an unwelcome appearance.

Here is what we ALREADY have planned for next year:

1. Seeing Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo perform live
2. Going to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to see my best friend in one of the shows. Should add, seeing my best friend who I haven’t seen since my wedding over four years ago!
3. Attending Emerald City Comic Con
4. Flying to Chicago to watch my best friend (the same from above) get married!!

And that’s just what we already have tickets for. I can’t wait to fill out the rest of the year with adventures!

Thanks so much for sticking it out with me this last year. I hope you’ve enjoyed my anecdotes and observations. I look forward to sharing more with you in 2012!!

Happy New Year!!