I can’t resist a good meme and when I saw this over at Dorothy’s, I knew it was an excellent chance to reflect on what has been quite a tumultuous year.
The rules are simple: post the first line (of yours, not a quote) from the first post of each month of the year.
January: What I like about these opening lines from the English version of Griet skryf ‘n sprokie by Marita van der Vyfer is the way they manage to be literary, funny and to hint at depressing possibilities for Griet at the same time.
February: Thanks to Litlove for this tag, which gives me a chance to write a quick post before I get down to studying for the day.
March: In times of uncertainty – or just on a Sunday afternoon when I want to escape – there’s nothing better than a South Africa versus Australia cricket test match.
April: This excellently-illustrated book on Depression arrived in my post-box yesterday.
May: I like that quote by Morrison, not because I’m feeling shame today, but because of the way it evokes the link between fog and the emotion.
June: Bit of craziness here as I wait to see if the Military have booked my plane ticket to fly to Kimberley on Sunday for a week.
July: Feeling a bit out of sorts today.
August: Greetings from Kathu in the remote Northern Cape.
September: Only 13 Mondays before the end of the year.
October: Self-help guru, absent father, cheating husband, excellent writer, self-centred prophet, genuine seeker after truth, a ‘decent person trying sometimes to be better’, a very wounded healer, a “bit of a shit”, a paradox.
November: I went up to Saldanha on Monday to give a presentation on the Psychology of Survival.
December: What do the above three have in common?
These lines make me think that my life this year has been a bit chaotic. I stayed in the military but moved from one base to another. I bought a house and moved in. My relationship went through ups and downs and finally ended. And then my dog died. I also ended therapy with one therapist, took a break and then started therapy with someone who is a much better fit for me. I also edited a book, read a fair bit and made new friends.
Here’s hoping for a much more settled (and happy and productive) 2010!
couchtrip.wordpress.com 
Looks like you are set for new beginnings! All the best for 2010 Pete!
The first lines were also diverse, interesting and engaging.
I remember you writing near the beginning of the year that you were going to move house, change job, and some other huge life event and I was thinking – wow! – that’s a tough list. And in fact you got through most of it, and with style and grace. Good on you! But here’s to a much quieter 2010 when you can enjoy the good things you’ve created in your life.
You have been through a lot of changes in 2009. I hope 2010 is very peaceful for you. I love the meme, I don’t think I have the patience right now to do that myself. It would be very interesting though.
It does sound like 2009 was quite a year. This first lines meme IS quite revealing, isn’t it? I hope you have a wonderful and much quieter 2010.
Happy New Year, blog buddy! Best of everything in 2010.
[…] 1 January 2010 · Leave a Comment By way of quick and dirty retrospective, here are the first sentences from my blog (or really blogs, as I changed platforms and name in May) for each month of the year. It’s a meme, picked up from The Couch Trip. […]
Have a very happy new year and I look forward to lots more reading on this site! Cheers
Best wishes to you for 2010!
Natalian, Lilian, litlove, Harriet, Dorothy, Grad, Seachanges, Smithereens – And a very happy new year to all of you! Although my therapist would add “wholeness not happiness”! Here’s hoping for a quieter 2010. Thanks for the blog friendships. I really appreciate them.
Happy new year, Pete! I think the really chaotic years tend to have quieter years in between. Hope your 2010 is a nice quiet one…
That really is a great meme … and I found myself, after reading the December first line, trying to figure out what September, October, and November had in common. I think I need a nap.
Was a heartbeat away from doing the same thing as David. Pete, yours and David’s turned out so much better than mine! I gave up because the first few months were just so bad. So. Boring. Most alarming!