2011 went out with quite a bang.

In October, our 20-year-old car died and we had to buy a new one.

Shortly after that, I got laid off from my job; for the first time in my life, I found myself unemployed.

In November I started a new job, at a company unlike any I’ve ever worked for, and with more responsibility than I’ve ever had.

And, just two days ago, we finally closed the purchase of our first house, located in a city where, literally, we can count the people we know on one hand.

That’s a lot of big change in a relatively short amount of time; we’re still catching our breath.

The start of a new year is usually a time when folks make resolutions for the coming year. I don’t feel quite ready to do that. There have been so many seismic shifts in the landscape of my life, that I don’t think I can make any projections.

Don’t get me wrong: the change has been good, and I feel grateful for all the new blessings that have come into my life; but, I’m a creature of habit, and this much change, while all positive, is a little disorienting.

The road ahead looks alien and unfamiliar. It cuts through land I’ve never seen, and I’ve no idea where it leads. So, instead of making resolutions, I’m just trying to follow the sage advice they offer at amusement parks everywhere:

Hold on tight, and enjoy the ride.

Happy New Year, everyone.