Dear 2009,

I must say, this letter is very hard to write because as the year comes to an end, I realize that I myself am also another year older, but hopefully a year wiser.  So, yes, I am a little sad but I have to say, you have been good to me. 

The year started off  in a little town called Vegas and boy what a night.  Found ourselves (Kerstin and I) wandering through Planet Hollywood completely lost thinking that we were in Caesars Palace.  Supposedly there were some fireworks, and you can hear them in our video at midnight...but I sure don't remember seeing them. 

Then the year turned a little scary, with a relationship ending, and my cousin, Kerstin, almost creating many heart attacks with her paralysis.  These two moments are some of the hardest times I have ever had to endure.  I think I may have competed with the clouds in April with the amount of tears that were shed. But, guess what?  I made it out alive and kicking and so did Kerstin!

As the months rolled on, things came a little easier.  I fell in love, quickly, with an amazing man, Matthew.  Yet the hardest part is that he lived 2,240 miles or 3613 kilometers away or 5 hours by plane, and none of those make the distance any easier to bare.  Yet, thankfully we stuck it out and made it through the year, although many times I had to ask if it was worth it. In the end, I always came to the same conclusion, definitely!

Work was a struggle with the economy and sales being slow, but we managed to pull it out this year, which was no easy feat.  I became the sales manager for the company and still had to work all the accounts I previously had, while having to play a bigger part in the company.  By the way, I love it!  I really do love my job and the people I work for and even some that I work with.  There isn't many things better than that! 

Places I visited this year: Philippines, Osaka, China, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Laguna Beach (Thank you Matthew), Denver, Miami!

I am disappointed in you this year though, and actually at myself.  I really didn't have any new experiences. Didn't learn to Scuba dive, didn't go on a cruise, didn't go to the Galapegos Islands.  So as you go away, I am glad that 2010 is still right around the corner, because now I can try to redo it all again and make it better and make sure the list is actually checked off. 

So 2009, you have been good to me in many ways.  I won't cry to send you off this time and I look forward to seeing your brother because I am sure he has good things in store.  If not, I may need to add jujutso to the list so I can do some ninja ass kicking!  I hope you have an awesome farewell party, I will be in full attendance!

with love and no regrets,

Jessica

Dear Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab,

I understand that you may not share with us the same religious views, but how did you expect to do anything with all those virgins if you strap the bomb to your genitals?  Was that the smartest thing you could do?  Personally, maybe the backside would have been better, I mean really no one pats down your butt either.

I can't tell you how sad it is to see that there will never be peace on earth with people who have your mentality still living.  The times just keep getting worse and more violent and you believe that this is your personal world to just destroy.  September 11 was one of the most memorable and one of the saddest days I have yet to experience.  However, it seems there is not one day that goes by that something in the world doesn't bring some type of tear to my eye.  Life isn't a choice that you get to make, Mr. Abdulmutallab.  No matter what God you believe in, or I believe in, the decision is not yours in who lives and who dies.  You are only responsible for one person in this life, and that is you.  So do what you want with your life, but leave all the innocent people that will never change any aspect of your living being alone. 

I don't believe in torturing you physically, but I hope that for the rest of your life you feel the torment inside of what you have done and what you could have created.  Someone out there should take pity on you, but it won't be this person.  I can't accept you causing a disturbance during my Christmas dinner.  The news is bad enough with all that occurs every day and we can do without another silly person believing they can steal beautiful souls from this world.  Thank goodness the hero sitting next to you on the plane foiled your plan.  HA HA HA I laugh at you...you are now a disgrace to even the people who you thought you were serving.

with despise,

Jessica

Dear Christmas...

Dear Christmas 2009,

Thank you for coming to a close quickly this year. I don’t believe my pockets would have allowed me to reach any deeper. I have come to the conclusion that while you are very much respected by all, since you do represent an important birthday, you have become quite pricey over the years. It seems the more that I make, the more expensive you become. I am not scientifically sure if that is a direct correlation, but my bank accounts have told me it is.

Although you are drying out my account, you couldn’t come at a better time of the year, before New Year Resolutions. Now I can make new ones that include not eating out as much, not spending money on things I don’t need, not purchasing overpriced goodies, and if I do eat out, making sure it is only a 2 star restaurant and nothing more. Hopefully all the expensive items that I purchased in the last month will last for the first 6 months of 2010.

You were very good to me this year, and I can’t say thank you enough for keeping everyone I know safe and sound from any harm. You even had Santa Claus come to my house, and that must mean the older I get, the nicer I become. Ok scratch that last sentence, since I need to work on that. I think you just had a soft spot in your heart for me this year, knowing that I have been working so hard at getting my life straight and learning to be independent again. I don’t think I was naughty, but I have definitely been more selfish this year (and unfortunately that’s not going to change…to a point). Only to reiterate though, thank you again for the wonderful time spent with loved ones (including Jenn and Wil's rockin' Christmas party), to keeping everyone healthy, and actually making our Christmas work party fun! Who knew Roulette and Blackjack could be fun without real money. Well real money would have meant that I lost it all….wow, you are smart!

So as we part ways, I am not sad to see you go. You brought much delight and many smiles and I know that you will be back in 363 days, to be exact. Next year I will be in a new city with new adventures, and it will be nice to have a familiar feeling and holiday pleasantry lurking around. Tell him Happy Birthday again for me and to have a glass of wine. He can even put it on my bill.

Love always,

Jessica