Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and best wishes for the New Year. I hope that Santa brought you everything that you wished for, but this is a diary for all of you who received a lump of coal (literally or figuratively) this year. For many of us here at the Great Orange Satan, 2010 has been a year of losses. This is a chance for you to air all those grievances and hope for a better 2011.
WYFP?! (What’s Your F**king Problem?!) is our community’s Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else we think might help. Everyone, and all sorts of troubles, are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. And won’t you please help keep the playground open this evening by recommending? Thanks.
2010 was a year of loss for all of us at the Great Orange Satan. We lost front-pager exmearden, long-time Kossack stumpy, and my friend willb48 among others.
The Democrats lost the House, and our majority in the senate is slim.
It was a year of loss for me too. Blue jersey dad's brother passed away in June. I lost my friend "Babs" whom I had known since the 1960s. She and I worked together as kitchen aides at Girl Scout camp when we were both 16. He sister was my tent-mate for years when we were campers over 45 years ago. I attended her funeral last month; she was only 58. In April, I lost my friend and colleague, Jennie P. Coy. Jennie was the head of the Faunal Remains Unit at the University of Southampton (UK) when I went there as a graduate student in 1977. She really helped get my career started, and I will be forever grateful to her for that. I also lost my beloved cat, Spooky.
The toughest loss of all is what has happened to my mom. As many of you know, she fractured her hip in three places last January while I was doing fieldwork in Egypt. Rehabilitation was unsuccessful, and she fell and dislocated her shoulder in March. As a result of a hospital mistake, she was sent home too soon and suffered respiratory failure a few days later. She has been on hospice care since the beginning of April. I miss the woman she used to be.
I am, however, a very lucky person. I have a wonderful family, great friends, and a good job. I have seen a lot of the world. In the great scheme of things, I can't complain. However, you can....
So now it is time to air your grievances. I brought along the Festivus pole:
and even some Festivus-flavored ice cream:
This is your opportunity. Maybe you didn't get that iPad you asked for. Maybe you are alone for the holidays. Maybe all your relatives are Republicans. What's your f#%king problem. I am here to listen.