So It’s My Birthday aka I Don’t Feel Fine

2016 comes to a close tomorrow, and in some ways, I couldn’t be happier.  This has been one of the worst years on record for me.  The scary part is that I started off really hopeful about this year… and things started falling apart from there.

We lost so many great people this year: David Bowie, Alan Rickman, George Michael, and almost worst of all, Carrie Fisher and her mom, Debbie Reynolds, just days ago.  I know I’m missing people from this list.  These are just the ones I can name at the moment.  Death is a part of life.  I get that.  I just wish they didn’t have to go like that.  And most of them were still too young.

So November didn’t help either.  I’m not going to whine and complain and be the “sore loser,” but I am definitely concerned. My concern doesn’t just stem from the fact that a certifiable hypocrite and horrible man is going to be holding the office of President next year. (And if you don’t think my assessment is certifiable, just watch several clips of him from over the past year.  That should be more than enough proof.)  No, what’s really got me worried is that in the first time since the country was founded, we’re going to have one political party dominating all three branches of government.  This is such a scary prospect that the Founding Fathers specifically designed the government so that it wouldn’t happen.  They knew that if any one party could dominate the government, it would steamroll across decisions.  No debate in this case, just “our way or the highway.”  This could be the end of the United States as we know it.  I hope not, but the outcome doesn’t look favorable.  If the country was “divided” before, I think we’re now looking at what could be the start of the Second Civil War.

I know I’m not the only person feeling these kinds of things as I’m seeing a lot of this reflected in things I’ve been seeing and hearing out in the wild.  A lot of people are looking forward to the start of a new year and leaving this year behind.  While I want to hope 2017 is going to be better, I thought 2016 was going to better than 2015, and I was wrong about that.

Not to say everything has been all gloom and doom.  To put things into perspective, there have been some bright spots in the year.  I finally published The Games That We Play. (Now available in e-book on Amazon, so reserve your copy today!) (No, really; I’m just kidding.  I hate it when people push their stuff at me, so I try not to be annoying like that.)  I still have to get back on The Games That We Still Play, but I’m getting closer to the end of the first draft.  I just have had a hard time getting back into my writing groove with all the negative stuff that’s happened this year.  I’m going to set the goal of getting out In The Name of Honor in 2017, so we’ll see how that goes.

At least I had a good birthday.  I had the day off work, so I spent it goofing off.  Tim took me to a fancy dinner, which could have ended badly since the restaurant’s card reader broke down, but they fixed it by the time we were done.  And he got me a Legend of Zelda bathrobe (one of the few pieces of Zelda related clothing I didn’t already own).  I still can’t believe I’m now 38, because I don’t feel like it.  Oh well.  Might as well enjoy it while it lasts, even though I’ve already been thinking myself this age for most of the year anyway.

I know this has been a kind of long and rambling post, but it’s my birthday, so I deserve a little lenience for that.  And I’m tired.  I’m not drunk though, despite having had an alcoholic beverage at dinner.  I don’t even plan on getting drunk tomorrow.  We usually have sparkling cider and watch the Sydney fireworks.

So here’s looking forward to 2017, for whatever that’s worth.  It could be better.  Maybe.  Possibly.  (But probably won’t.)