Checking In From A Decade Past

Dear FutureMe, Hey. It's been ten years. Ten. A decade. I'm sitting at my work computer right now typing this, and it doesn't quite seem real that ten years in the future you're reading it. In any case, let's rehash, shall we? Little boy J is turning four in just a few months, but for you he'll be turning fourteen. Whew, I bet he's a handful, but the sweetest handful imaginable. Good luck with driver's ed soon.. :) Does he have any siblings? We were hoping for one more, but of course that's an unknown right now. How's the job situation? Right now things are bad in Illinois - really bad. Hundreds of layoffs from the University already this year, and who knows if my job is next? I just graduated with my MLIS so maybe by the time you're reading this I'm a children's librarian - OMG Am I? Did I get that job in Q that I wanted so badly? What's the wife up to? Did she ever get out of teaching? She hates it so much right now, after putting 22 years of her soul into trying to make children's lives better. Illinois and bad administrations are just sucking all enjoyment out of everything she does. I hope she's happy now. Have we moved? If not, I certainly hope we found enough funds to build on upstairs. Did you ever write that book? If not, do it today. Write something down, and get started. You're creative and fun and you don't need to waste any more time. The depression is good right now, staying at bay. You lost forty pounds last year, and then today weighed in fifteen pounds up again, so today begins a new exercise regime! I'm sure by the time you read this we'll have oscillated a few more times. Hopefully staying healthy physically keeps us healthy mentally, though. Mom and Dad probably still haven't come around about your marriage, but if they haven't now when it's been twelve years, I doubt another ten will have made much of a dent. I do hope you've managed to reconcile a little though. Ten years. If you're still at W you've put in almost seventeen years. What's that, just over halfway done? Probably just UNDER, if the pensions are as bad as they are now. Well, you'll be nearly forty-five. I hope you're happy. I hope you're healthy. I hope you are surrounded by more love than you know what to do with. I hope your losses have been few and your gains have been many (and I don't mean weight). I hope laughter is the leading sound in your ears, and joy is the light in your eyes. May every day be happier than the one before. Love, Me.