Launching into 2015

On the way back from skiing last night we were listening to the 80's channel on Sirius Xm and Prince's “1999” came on. William asked why Prince had sung about 1999 in the 80’s, and I told him that – at the time – the pending change to a new century had seemed like a big deal. “Oh,” he said confusedly.  It is hard to remember in this year of our Lord 2015 why 1999 seemed like a big deal. Time keeps pushing on, and we could mark its passage yesterday in Daniel’s improved skiing – he made it from the top of the mountain to the bottom without issue of any kind!

Despite the fun day of skiing I think we are ready to end vacation and get back to real life. My suspicions arise from the sudden spike in teenage / tween moodiness and agitation, sibling bickering and lack of food in the pantry. While sledding on New Year’s Day our neighborhood nearly witnessed bloodletting on the hill as the boys took to piledriving one another into the snow. When I scolded them by saying how shocked the neighbors would be, one son said, “No, mom, they’ll just think you can’t control your kids.”  School time, anyone?

We enjoyed New Year’s despite the full contact sledding, watching fireworks with neighbors and enjoying the college football semifinals. My younger brother Michael went to the University of Oregon, and my parents and siblings lit up the text-ways one more time as Oregon cruised to victory. Mom’s comment on the pretty new uniforms and Karen’s note on how Marcus Mariota goes easy on the eyes served as contrast to Michael’s passionate fandom and gratitude for his team’s chance at the championship. Then Rob’s team, Ohio State, achieved a hard-won victory over Alabama and our day was complete.  Now “back to life, back to reality” as (80’s band Soul II Soul would say). 2015 will wait for no one.