01.01.07
Journals
2007 is here. How many resolutions have been written? Have many will be broken? How many have already been broken? It looks like 2007 is going to be a year of changes. Changes in government and perhaps the situation in Iraq. Perhaps Mr. Bush (sorry, I still can’t call him a president since he was not elected – twice) will realize how much he has screwed up and listen to experts to try to fix this mess. And then again, perhaps he will stay “his course” and continue to put our young men and women in harm’s way for control of oil and land. So much is yet to be written.
For me – the writing is here, in my written journal and my other writings. One thing I have found in my interesting lifetime is that writing about your life and experiences can have a sobering and positive psychological effect on a person.
In the beginning of 2006 I wrote of sorrow and depression as I split with my partner I thought I would have been with forever. We moved here together – to begin a life. A few months later, she left to return to her home. I stayed. Many of us have been there. I wrote constantly and found how much it helped.
As the Gay Games approached I was lucky enough to be placed into a wonderful position of directing the photographers for this fantastic event. I wrote almost daily of the challenges and frustration at the issues and problems I experienced. And yet I also wrote of the lifetime of memories that I would have from the events, the people and the spectacle that was Gay Games VII Chicago! I have to admit, the people I met – the wonderful and talented people that were the embodiment of the Gay Games – well, I am lucky to have been included in this group. I will treasure the friendships I have made.
Speaking of friendships – in my short year and a few months of living in Chicago, I have met so many people – perhaps more than in all my life and travels. Remarkable people that stand for so much in the LGBT community. People who work tirelessly to make changes so that everyone in this wonderful community can have a chance at a little bit better life. To all of you – I say, “Thank you for welcoming me into your lives!”
As the first part of the year was about sadness and the middle was about joy, excitement and exhaustion, the last part of the year found me dealing with “C” (ok, I will say it – cancer) for the second time in my life. I have beaten it – again – and can only thank “Spirit” for all the support, love and healing that was given to me to get through this. To think it was only 7 years ago that I dealt with my first “C” and thought it was my last. Little did I know.
As 2006 drew to a close and 2007 is just on the horizon, I wonder what new friendships I will share. I wonder what challenges are in front of me? I know that my life is full of positive energy and I will journal about it daily, as I did today and for all of 2006. I will fill countless books with my writing – some to share and some to hide. I will look back at times in 2006 and re-read some entries when I need to avoid the mistakes I made. I will look back to 2000 when I wrote of surgery to remove a tumor and the positive outlook I had to have My life changed then – for the better.
My life continues to change now, in a new city, with new friends and new challenges. I will continue to document it all. If only for myself.
Welcome 2007 – I look forward to what lies ahead.
peace, love and light
Kat