Goodbye 2010

As the last strike of the clock pushes 2010 through the needle’s eye of time into history, as we pour the champagne and wish for the better 2011, in that instant we reflect on the year that has just passed. There’s a fleeting moment, a flash really, when we feel its aftertaste—bitter for some, sweet for the others. All good and bad of past 365 days mix together and the feeling at the pit of the stomach is the true reflection of the year that has been.

My one was, like the pork dish Meg likes, sweet and sour. Or, rather, sour and sweet. The sour taste coming from work, especially in the first half of the year: uncertainty, stress, gloom. Meg, unfortunately, had the same spice in her environment. It was a soured year.

On the personal plan, it was sweet. I learned—and hopefully Meg did, too—that work is only a part of life, not the whole of it. The rest I dedicated to running, reading and writing. Running brought the most rewards: the indescribable excitement of Boston and New York marathons, the biggest two in the world. Reading, in 2010, was also extremely rewarding. I stumbled across an unusual number of great books. As for writing, it was a stop and go process, with more stops than goes. I write a monthly column on nationalpost.com about running; I record a bi-weekly podcast on runcast.net about running. But I still haven’t completed stories I carry in me. I still haven’t found the voice to tell them.

Meg’s highlights are, surprisingly, my marathons too. She was my devoted cheerleader who soaked the atmosphere, the cheering crowds, the tired runners, the fun and excitement. She, in fact, liked it so much that she started running with me. Unfortunately, she is sidelined with a knee injury for the last few weeks, but I have a secret plan to get her back into running when the snows melt.

Her artistic side blossomed through the painting she started. It’s a meticulous, detailed work on a huge canvas, and her effort ebbs and flows in change to her interest in gardening, but somehow both, the garden and the painting, show progress. I dare not describe the painting, because the artist don’t like showing the canvas to the public until it’s complete.

After all is calculated, I could say that we had a modestly positive year. Lots of room for improvement, but also lot of areas to hide from stress. And, lots to wish for and expect from 2011.