Monday, December 28, 2009

Decade, You Have Been Good To Me

Whatever history will end up calling the last decade, she's almost over.

In the last ten years I've:

...married my wife (the current and only one).

...seen ten senior classes leave McLouth High School.

...witnessed the birth of my two beautiful boys (Owen in 2003...Max in 2006).

...started and finished my M.S. program at the University of Kansas.

...been nominated for Kansas Teacher of the Year.

...written four books and nearly 200 stories. One of the books really sucks; one is being published; the jury is still out on the others.

...lost a little hair (and a number of the survivors have gone grey).

...helped my wife through some pretty crappy post-partum depression.

...witnessed random acts of violence in the 21st Century's "new war". I'll never forget walking from my classroom on September 11th...my vice-principal told me what had happened, his face drawn and pale. Likewise, bombings in Madrid, London, elsewhere--terrorism was no longer a "Middle East" problem--not that it ever was.

...took my children to the doctor/emergency room for broken arms, fevers, anaphylactic shock, and stitches.

...grown up. A little. ('course Santa brought me a Nerf gun...so pbbbbbt to growing up)

Later this week I'll review my year in writing. For now...wow. What a decade. I know I'm leaving soooo much out. Blame it on the post-Christmas stomach flu. I know I am.

While I'm trying to remember what I forgot, please have a look at this lovely review of Kaleidotrope #7 from Tangent Online. My entry lands some favorable e-ink:

'To Put Away Childish Things’ provides some remarkable observations about the nature of humanity...

(the reviewer then goes on to kick me in the teeth with a glancing shot of feminist criticism...read for yourself)

Gotta love it.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice post, Aaron. Made me think about my own noughties... We have a lot to be thankful for.

Brendan P. Myers said...

The "Decade from Hell" works for me. And congrats on all your accomplishments, as well as the fine review. Looks like you might need to bring Santiago back from the dead!

Unknown said...

Haha! I love that Santa brought you a nerf gun! The last decade has certainly been one of learning and growing... I have two boys as well. Little boys are so much fun! I love having an excuse to play with cars and legos. (Some of us never really will grow up.)

Jamie Eyberg said...

Growing up is definitely optional around here. Getting older- meh.

K.C. Shaw said...

You've got me thinking about all the small but amazing things that have happened to me over the decade too. The years go so fast now, it just doesn't seem possible that so much has happened.

Enjoy that nerf gun. :)

Aaron Polson said...

Michael - Without a doubt (on thankfulness).

Brendan - Just what I was thinking...

Nisa - Our house is a post-Christmas Lego explosion.

Jamie - Why do you think I teach? (the perfect excuse to stay youngish)

K.C. - Oh, I will...I will.

Fox Lee said...

That is a robust ten years!

Katey said...

Ha, what an excellent decade indeed. I'll be sending good vibes your way for the next one-- no doubt it'll be even better.

Pretty good review-- funny how no matter what we write, we're going to push someone's buttons, innit?

Cate Gardner said...

I refuse to consider the last ten years because that would mean having to admit I'm not 24. Your decade sounds wonderful. :D