New Beginnings

I tried getting pictures of the grandgirls on Christmas day. Couldn't get all six in or any child to look up from their loot. Still, it was a lovely, peaceful morning followed by a delicious breakfast served up by their mother. A good send up for the coming new year.

I got up early on the December 30th to get ready to go to court to get my divorce decree. The weather had been cold and snowing and I was concerned about parking. Because of my asthma I can't walk far in below freezing temperatures. In spite of the weatherman's promises of more snow that night none had fallen and the streets were clear and the sun was out. I got a parking place in front of the courthouse. I hadn't been in court since my granddaughters were adopted and found like the big cities we now have a metal detector and they collect your cell phones and go through your purses and bags. We have a gang problem here too, there are no paradisaical places any longer. I was the first one on the docket and was sworn in and had to sit in the witness chair and declare my marriage was irretrievably broken; Washington is a no-fault divorce state. It took seven minutes and I was done.

I can't say I was joyful, it wasn't that kind of occasion but I felt immensely unburdened. I don't know what is coming down the road but I am kind of excited to greet it. I never imagined I would end up in divorce court at 68 but there I was. In the afternoon I had a pre-arranged phone visit with a very dear longtime friend and as planned we had a glass of wine and toasted our futures. She was abruptly "retired" by her firm and has been on unemployment since early 2010. She is legal secretary with excellent skills but not one nibble of a job so she is starting her own business providing those services for companies who cannot afford their own staff. I think she will do quite well. We toasted to our futures and whatever that may bring and what we can make of it. Here's to a new year and the hopes and plans we all have.