(Norman Rockwell~seemed appropriate on New Year’s Eve, when many will be dressing up in their fancy duds and going out to celebrate)

Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already. Of the things you have, select the best: and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought if you did not have them. ~Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor

The unexamined life is not worth living. ~Socrates

Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge. So it is incumbent on me to know my self, to know it completely, to know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its very atoms. ~Kahlil Gibran

It is almost year’s end, a time when even the least introspective of us pauses to reflect on the past year. Fear not, I have no intention of getting too deep with this but in the interest in spurring you on to self-reflection I list here 2,005 reflections on 2005…give or take a few thousand.

1. On January 28th I did the unthinkable. I started a blog. Thanks to the inspiration of Mosker and the enthusiasm of Jimmy I stuck with something that I would have normally just let fall by the wayside.

2. Thanks to the blogging community I have met some wonderful people that I’ve enjoyed conversing with over the past year. I hope you know who you are…if you’re reading this, its you!

3. I finally got to meet the infamous Rob that I had heard so much about. It was an enjoyable experience.

4. Though I’m not conscious of exactly how it occured my comic book guy Jeff and I took our relationship “to the next level” and we started hanging out. This lead to the introduction and friendship of our families. I also was able to get the Smiths and Dibbens together thus expanding our circle of friends.

5. I got to meet Boba Fett, both he and his wife were extremely generous with their time with the fans. I was impressed.

6. I was able to take a wonderful trip to Chicago, meet my favorite author, go to a Cubs game and introduce Jeff and Keri to Scott…again connecting friendships.

7. Reading garnered new interests as I “discovered” the John Carter series by Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Conan books of Robert E. Howard as well as the wonderful artist Frank Frazetta whose work will rate a good sized post in the coming year.

8. I was privileged to celebrate my first 4th of July since 1998 (due to working in the fireworks stand every year) and Jimmy threw the biggest most amazing and hands down best 4th of July celebration that I have ever been to and I was thrilled to be able to be a part of the show. Thanks again Jimmy, I get giddy just thinking about it.

9. I was introduced to the joy that is Firefly culminating in what is one of my favorite movies of the year, Serenity.

10. I finally joined all my friends who had paved the way, entered the 21st century and signed up for Netflix. Good stuff.

11. Got to see Les Miserables again and it was incredible.

12. Mary and I were able to take a vacation by ourselves this year, a little bed and breakfast in Missouri’s wine country as well as several days off work at home watching movies and relaxing. Wonderful.

13. Wrote and submitted a 100 words story. It won’t get accepted but it was a fun and “out of my comfort zone” exercise.

14. Discovered the joy that is Gene Wolfe…adding to the list another author that I read on the recommendation of Neil Gaiman.

15. Had some amazing, wonderful, meaningful meals and conversations with friends over the year.

16. I grew up some…not alot, fear not…but a little. Some of the things I have heard over the years is starting to sink in and it is at times scary and at times wonderful. Change is in the wind…good change. The Uberlist is part of this change.

Goodbye 2005. It was a year that saw some very good things as well as a year that saw hardships and difficulties for us, family, and friends. Tomorrow I’ll post a New Year’s wish for everyone. Today I am going to enjoy the last day of 2005.