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Hope

January11

Every year, right before Christmas, I go to The Target to buy myself an ornament for the tree. One of those absurdly expensive ones (for The Target, I should clarify) made out of the tiny hands of Ethiopian kids or by collecting the tears of the Unicorn that lives atop Mount Olympus. I’m not really sure. I’m not an ornament-maker.

It’s one of the more sentimental things I do. I mean, I’m the person that’s like, what the SHIT am I gonna do with all of these kids drawings? Sure, I love looking at them, but do I need to save every fucking one of the pages of scribbles just so someday, my kid can look back on it and be all, “Fuck, I was a terrible artist?” I think no.

We all know I’m not overly sentimental…until it comes to these ornaments. I try to select, from the supply that’s long-since been depleted because I am both lazy and cheap (sales make me happy in the pants), something that represents either the year before or the year ahead.

For both Alex and Amelia’s first Christmas, I bought them two crystal-studded “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments – one in blue and the other in pink, clearly for the year that passed.

Of course, these remain locked into the box of nice ornaments for another year while I display the very cheapest of ugly plastic ornaments – I’m afraid I’d burst into the Ugly Cry if one of those got misplaced.

This year, the selection being “pink for breast cancer,” a smattering of initials, and a couple of “for teacher” ones, I found the one I wanted to represent the coming year.

2011 was the year of losses – both great and small. I won’t wax poetic about the lessons I’ve learned because I didn’t really learn anything beyond “I’m an asshole,” and “other people are assholes.” Frankly, I knew that going IN to 2011, so it’s not like I need to sit back and be all nostalgic about all that I’ve lost. Who does that?

Anyway.

I don’t want to sit around with my thumb up my ass being all *sad trombone* here. I’ve had enough of that lately (it’s January, after all) and frankly, The Ugly Cry is starting to break capillaries in my face.

For 2012, I bought a simple ornament. It has one word on it.

Hope.

This year, I hope.

And I do.

posted under Daddy's Little Girl Loves Disco

38 Comments to

“Hope”

On January 11th, 2012 at 11:29 am Cindy Says:
hope is so precious. I’m glad you have some, and grateful you are part of what gives me hope.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:35 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Thank you, my friend. Hope is SO, so precious.
On January 11th, 2012 at 11:46 am Tonya Says:
Hope is the flame we carry in our hearts. Though it may wax and wane, We must never let it be smothered by life. In our darkest hours the smallest flicker can be a savior.
May your flame burn bright in 2012 Aunt Becky.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:35 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Brilliant. I’m writing this down.
On January 11th, 2012 at 11:49 am Pish Posh Says:
Hope is contagious

Hope got survivors through the Holocaust

Hope gets you through the day

Hope is the strongest sign of our great humanity
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:35 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Yes. Yes it is. When we are left with nothing, we hope.
On January 11th, 2012 at 11:49 am thepsychobabble Says:
Hope is a hard thing to hold on to some days. Much luck to you.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:35 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Thanks, my friend.
On January 11th, 2012 at 11:55 am Lovely Simulacrum Says:
I’m hoping right alongside you!
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:36 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Hope is all we have. And it is what I cling to.
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:02 pm Mayor Gia Says:
Awww, a very nice/important word!
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:36 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Isn’t it? It’s so small, but so big.
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:12 pm Leanne Shirtliffe Says:
Nicely said, AB. By the way, I too have trouble with the art production factory my house has become. Sometimes I take photos of them, but usually I sneak them into the recycle bin at night. My 7yo has busted me before. Now I bury them in the recycle bin.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:36 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Bwahahahahahahahaha.
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:15 pm From the Mind of a Madman Says:
Nothing wrong with having some hope in the new year… I bet good things will happen for ya. (ugly smile)
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:36 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Bwahahaha. I really hope so. SEE? HOPE!
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:36 pm chrisinphx Says:
Hope is the perfect thing to roll in 2012. People and 2011 were serious Assholes, glad they are both over and done with. 2012 EYEOFTHEMOTHERFUCKINGTIGER YO!
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:37 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
2011 was one of the hardest years ever. EVER.
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:39 pm angela Says:
So weird–I was smoking on my porch last night thinking, “is this what having hope for the future feels like?” Get out of my brain. Its not big enuf for both of us.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:37 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Bwahahaha! Hope is a weird feeling sometimes.
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:42 pm JRose48 Says:
I think so many of us can use a little hope right now. Thank God that fucker 2011 is gone and buried.
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:49 pm TONYA Says:
TRUE STORY !
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:37 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
I’d like to burn an effigy of that fucking ugly ass year on my lawn.
On January 11th, 2012 at 12:55 pm Pamela Gold Says:
I want to get that simple word tattooed on the inside of my right arm. 2011 sucked balls for me, being diagnosed bipolar and all, I’m ready for some luck and change.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:38 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
I am too. It’s time to hope again.
On January 11th, 2012 at 1:11 pm Suzanne Says:
Hoping it is a rocking year for you!!!
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:38 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
Me too! Thanks, love!
On January 11th, 2012 at 2:57 pm Wombat Central Says:
Love your theme for the year. Maybe you should leave that ornament hanging in plain sight for a while (out of reach of wee little ones, of course). At least through January….
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:38 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
I’m going to. I really am. Thank you.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:31 pm Deb Menard Says:
I’m a fan of hope. It’s what gets me through the trying times I had and continue to have with Stress 1.

Also, I’m a fan of ornaments. And The Target. And Vodka.
On January 11th, 2012 at 5:38 pm Your Aunt Becky Says:
This is why we’ve been friends so damn long 😉
On January 11th, 2012 at 7:58 pm Christene Says:
Beautiful. And yes, hope is awesome, and we all should have some 🙂
On January 11th, 2012 at 8:11 pm katrina Says:
So true mahatma becky! without hope we’re just lifeless…..Faith and charity are nice buddies too.
On January 11th, 2012 at 8:49 pm Laura Says:
I love that.

I feel the same way; 2011 sucked rocks but maybe, just maybe, there’s a light shining there out in the distance of 2012…
On January 12th, 2012 at 9:39 am Megan (Best of Fates) Says:
I just spent a few minutes being like, wait, Becky has breast cancer?!?! Then I realized I’m just crappy at reading. So, good news already!
On January 12th, 2012 at 9:58 am DiatribesAndOvations Says:
Another beautiful post. My SO and I are ornament collectors. But we have a problem … we won’t stop collecting them until we have them ALL! So hide your new one well.
On January 12th, 2012 at 1:23 pm Mrs. One Day Says:
I have hope too. I have to right? We all need hope after all. I hope that this year I am a better me than last year. Among other things no one cares about other than me.

I like it. Hope.
On January 14th, 2012 at 2:16 am Devan Says:
I also have great expectations for the HOPE this year. My facebook status on or about January 3 (so it MUST be important) was “The word for 2012 is HOPE! Spread the word!”
I too HOPE for great things for you this year, AB! Love you hon!