high points
- San Francisco in January
- Portland International Film Festival
- Trani's Memorial Day weekend visit
- Reconnecting with my childhood friend Mendal Bouknight, who contacted me after coming upon a Memo essay about growing up in Dutch Fork and Irmo
- The addition of a Kelsey Mosley painting to my modest art collection
- The 3 Friends poetry reading with Norval Willey and Curtis Whitecarroll in September
- Vancouver BC in October
- The Oregon Literary Review/Blackbird Wine Shop poetry reading earlier this month with Michael Shay, Rogers Truax, and Ric Vrana
- Dinner with Sylvia at Besaw's, The Firehouse, Indish, and other dining spots about town
- Dinner with Devon at Ciao Vito
- Invitations to my old Atlanta friend Jerry Pagane's art shows in New York even though I was unable to attend any of them
- Cranking up the mileage on my weekly runs last summer after Trani tried to peer-pressure me into training for a marathon
- The upcoming Christmas visit to Tulsa
2009 has in many respects been a Difficult year, but even a difficult year may have its bright moments to redeem it and us. I look to 2010 with realism and hope, determined to cleave to the vision, sometimes in spite of all, sometimes in spite of myself. As if it were a matter of choice.
I like this time of year. Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful holiday season.