My New Year Isn't Starting Out Right

Reminiscing the past 365 days and looking forward to the unwritten days ahead are a common ritual so to welcome the New Year. I’ve seen it everywhere—the thank yous, the wishes, the apologies—in blogs, in text messages, heck, even in YouTube. Having considered my 2006 as one of the freshest (me out fresh from an almost 3-year relationship, encountering fresh experiences, acquiring a fresh outlook on life, refreshing friendships), I was actually really excited to make a nostalgic year-ender entry.

But when the phone had to ring, and I had to hear my uncle’s glum voice from the other line, it dawned on me that there is still something wrong. Stammering, he shelled out to me the bad news: my digital camera (both my birthday and Christmas present) is still not arriving. My uncle lives in New Jersey (where my camera is $200 cheaper) and his sister-in-law, who was vacationing in California, was supposed to bring home with her my new camera. For months, I have been anticipating for that day, when my camera and I are to meet face to face; but due to some conflict, it had to be put on ice for some more.

So right now you might probably be asking yourself, has she become that shallow? It only took the delay of her camera’s arrival for her to be suddenly disheartened?

It is upsetting to hear that I have to wait a few more weeks to finally bag my camera. But if I was able to mindlessly wait for it for months, how could a few weeks even hurt? Being camera-less on the first day of the new year didn’t really upset me, instead, it made me realize what else I was missing.

Reminiscing the past 365 days and looking forward to the year ahead were a ritual this person and I shared. It was already the 1st of January, and it struck me, that person was not there with me anymore to capture it… and there is no assurance of delays to even keep me waiting.