2011
At this time of year, I suppose it’s natural for everyone to look back at the past year and start looking ahead at the one to come. It struck me as we were going through the holidays this month, as well as my birthday, that this would be the last year that Maria and I would be celebrating them with just the two of us. You may be thinking, “Well, DUH!” but the revelation of that struck me as we sat opening presents on Christmas morning. I’m not complaining, mind you. Quite the contrary. I’m looking forward to Christmas even more now. I want to see the look on my son’s face the first time he sees the Christmas tree light up. The only other family we have had to share that with the last few years has been our dogs, and I think the experience is just lost on them.
This coming year will be a busy one, however. We’re heading to Las Vegas next week. I’m going for a trade show and Maria is coming with me. It will probably be our last trip together before the baby. When we get back, we’re suppose to close on our house (God willing and all goes well). I’m also going to have a busy year with work. There is another World Tour scheduled and I’ve been asked to go. That starts at the end of January and includes Rio, Uruguay, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Africa, Las Vegas, Tucson and who knows where else. There are at least three months I’ve told them I will not travel. And honestly, I don’t know that I want to go too far away at any point during those other nine months. I’ve worked at this place for going on 7 years now and I know that nothing is set in stone until it happens, so I’m not going to worry. I’m training two other people to do these tasks just in case, though.
Last, but certainly not least, will be the birth of our son Danger Dotson sometime around April. You’re either groaning or laughing right now, but I really dig that name. Maria swears it’s not going to happen, but I’m really hoping the doctor gives her lots of happy meds during or right after the delivery so I can sneak it into the birth certificate. I would be happy with it being a middle name. It doesn’t have to be the first name. And son, in the event I don’t get that name worked in, blame your mother.