I used to swing dance. I had a lot of fun with it. I even got to the point of learning aerials (albeit a little early). I experienced some shoulder problems (from aerials attempts far too early) and just a lack of time to pursue more swing dancing, so I went back to my studying and didn’t attend any more classes.

I came up with this resolution after the Squirrel Nut Zippers show I attended with Ben, Mia, and Kerri Anne. I wanted to swing dance last summer, but that didn’t materialize — however, this is my chance.

This time, I’m really getting back into it. I’ve made calls about registering for classes and hope to do so within the week. And the classes start the day before my birthday, so it’s a bit of a birthday present to myself. Hopefully I’ll also meet some really great people and make some new friends. If this goes well, I’ll move up to the Boulder Swing Dance classes and cut a rug or two there. I’d like to get good at it and make it a habit; I don’t want to be saying, “I used to…” in the same way I say “I used to play hockey,” or “I used to play the violin.” Maybe hockey and the violin will occupy next year’s resolutions, but this year, it’s all about the lindy hop!

I’ve been a little too occupied with life in general to blog, and that makes me sad. I really enjoy writing, but I’ve devoted most of my writing energy to academic papers. It’s honestly a little stifling.

I told myself this year that I’d start blogging regularly again. I have only upheld that promise to the smallest degree possible, and I know I’m better than that.

Once school is finished, I’m going to hash out the rest of the backdated blogs I have and then list them in an updated entry. Hopefully someone will find a few of them interesting.

Until then, I’ve got more research papers to finish.

Although blogging again is a resolution of mine, I decided I might as well start again now so I can recap a little about my year; explain a little bit of why starting at the end still make the beginning of the year a bit better.

This was a roller coaster sort of year. A year ago today, my parents and brother and I were in southern France while my grandfather and aunt watched my dog, Magoo. I hadn’t seen my family in roughly five months, and didn’t know Magoo would be gone when I returned seven months after our great vacation in France and Spain. The year started out great, but finished with some tough circumstances; all in all, it was the best of years and it was the worst of years.

In June, Magoo died while I was still in Sweden. My father had told me to come home earlier, but I insisted on milking my time in Sweden. I can’t regret what I did, though, because I never could’ve known that my very precious dog – the one animal I’ve really ever attached to so much – would die rather young. I came home in July to spend the last few months of my grandfather’s life by his side. In September, my grandfather passed away at 92 after a long, rich life; although he had a great life and he was around for over 21 years of my life, it’s still hard to say goodbye. It was a stroke that had initiated his last days, one stroke that was worse than all the ones before it — something that was very hard to watch as all the things he was trying to say were impossible to understand. At least he understood what we were telling him in his last days, and it was that we loved him and that we could handle a goodbye. I’m not so sure about that last part, but I am glad that he is no longer suffering.

It’s hard to lose two of the most important things in your life within months of each other. It was also hard to go from a life that had an expiration date – a life in Sweden that I loved very, very much – and return to living in a place I’d known my entire life. I really didn’t want to leave.

But I realize that I’m lucky that I left for Sweden in the first place. To come back to the U.S. was a huge eye-opener — not that I hadn’t already been aware of the direction in which this country is going. But I was lucky to have my dog and my grandfather in my life, too, even if my dog wasn’t there nearly long enough. In fact, Magoo would’ve turned 8 today. As for Grandpa, some people never get to know their grandparents. I was quite fortunate.

So with that attitude, I will ring in the New Year knowing that I am a fortunate person. I have the opportunity to return to Sweden someday, something I will certainly pursue. With 2008 comes a multitude of possibilities and a chance to have new things to focus on. I would be foolish to squander the potential that lies ahead of me.

Have a happy and safe New Year.