searching for the sun at 29 + goodbye to 30

when i was 29 a friend told me that the sun was not in a good place in my horoscopian sky, which was her way of explaining (mostly jokingly) why things weren't going so well for me at the time. i'm half chinese, and so i kind of love to hear ridiculous superstitions like that. it was hugely comforting, for no apparent reason. it took the pressure off. or maybe, it was just an acknowledgement, one which i'd had a hard time making—that life sucked. had been sucking.

it was nice for me to finally say, this right here? this is no good. this is very bad. sometimes it takes an astrological explanation to be able to finally accept: i'm sad.

i was on the verge of many things, in the middle of many things. not many of those things felt good at the time — married, without children, armed with an expensive mfa degree that i wasn't entirely sure how i was going to use (or pay back). i was also coming off the hormonal roller coaster of a miscarriage and a six year stint of teeth-gritted nongrieving. i fought the grieving hard. i simply didn't (don't) know how to do it. 

last year on my birthday, i wrote about how hard my twenties had been. for most of it, i felt like i was groping in the dark. wherever it was, my proverbial sun was elusive. it was a season of winter and major SADness was going on. i was happy and sad to see it go at the same time. 

but even though i was mourning my twenties, i predicted that 30 was going to be a fantastic year. and you know what? i didn't even know the half.

having wilder was the best birthday gift ever. i am so thankful for this family. even when they drive me crazy and exhaust me, and i really need a day off (thanks loverboy for letting me take friday off!).

this year has been so full. of moving and birthing and keeping a baby alive. of snuggles and laundry and painting and donuts and fussies and bouncing and drool. and most of all, of love.

so, thanks 30. you really were a fantastic year.