End of year musings

So... 2006 draws to an end, 2007 is about to emerge. Looking back on 2006 it doesn't seem as eventful as I feel it should be. Whilst I finally managed to achieve my dream of moving to the US after 14 long years, getting here with such "delay" was almost an anti-climax. Life is good though even though I could do without the crap IBM stuff at work but as things stand at the moment 2006 will go down in history as one of my better years I guess. I did learn one heck of a lot in the past 12 months, that's for sure.
From the fact that I never thought I would miss the UK (and Woking in particular), to the astounding discovery that the life here in the US is indeed very different from what I know, yet at the same time, the exact same... to the most recent discovery that I am terrified of driving in snow and heaven knows, there's gonna be TONS of snow here sooner or later.
Lessons learned in 2006 also include finding out that I really, really liked the company I work(ed) for (the US part anyway) and that I really, really don't like working for ridiculously huge companies. Also, Weight Watchers might work when doing it on your own, but provides much better results when going to meetings (I'm just about choking as I write this, simply because whilst I know that the results from going to meetings are much better, I would still hate going to the standard meetings, as opposed to the "WW at work" ones we have once a week at lunchtime).
Oh yeah... there's always the lesson that truth and justice do eventually prevail - like when stupid bastard Townends refrained from paying back my deposit without any reasoning and without ever replying to my communications. A letter from the Small Claims Court telling them that I've sued suddenly made them very keen to resolve the matter and I am the proud owner of my own money again!!!

Things I learned to appreciate this year:

- friends, from all over the world, that are still near and dear to me, no matter where my restless life takes me
- family, who are wonderful to be around for very short periods of times, enough to keep the illusion alive that all is well with the world (and conveniently forgetting that longer stays usually end in disaster)
- classical music, that gradually inched its way to the top of my listening list again and that still provides hours of peace, excitement and relaxation
- singing, which is still the single most exhilarating thing I can think of to do
- Route 3 in NH and MA, which has provided me with endless hours of jaw dropping beauty on my drives to and from work.
- the peace and quiet I had in my apartment in Woking, because I now know what it's like to have a phsycho neighbour live above you!
- most people at work, who made me feel welcome and needed and just overall important
- my dad, who helped me get my first car many, many years ago, and my second car, two years ago. After dealing with car dealers, I realize how lucky I am to have had his support and help when buying a car!
- my parent's sacrifice when moving to Germany all those years ago, because after moving to a completely different culture myself, I can't even begin to imagine what it must've been like for them to give up the life they had already built
- my courage to move to the US, because I never saw it as a big deal until I got here and had to go through so many things that were totally foreign to me. I can now pat myself on the back and admire the guts I've had to do this completely on my own. I only know two people that have done this and they'll both tell you, it's not easy - hi Eric & Ros!!! :-)

There's much more really but this sums the most important stuff up. So without much ado... goodbye 2006, welcome 2007!