Saturday, December 12, 2015, 12:01 am

This has been the best year of my adult life. I found my dream job. I live in my dream house. I love my Sweetie and my fur child. All of our children are grown. The youngest one graduated and joined the Navy. We are proud of them all. We went to Paris. I won some tough cases, some easy cases, and I joined families together, saved kids from bad parents, and helped some spouses get out of marriages like my first – terrible ones. Then, last night, my little hometown of 1,700 people saw their first football state championship ever. And I was there. 

I cried most of the way home. I saw some old friends. I avoided some old assholes, as my friend put it. I cheered so much that my voice is pretty much gone and my throat will be incredibly sore tomorrow. It was all totally worth it. There were 6,600 tickets sold for two teams’ fans who were from towns with populations totaling way less than half that together. Just amazing. I’m so glad I went. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and my whole family was there, except my dad who doesn’t like football or crowds. 

Why did I cry? I cried for so many reasons. This week, yesterday to be exact, marks 24 years since my father in law Ken (from my first marriage) had his heart transplant. Without that, my life would have been drastically different. Coming up this next week, I get to complete an amazing case for a client and give her a gift to commemorate the event. I don’t usually buy clients gifts, but this one reminds me of me an awful lot. Great student, had a child young, bright future ahead, getting rid of old baggage. I cheer her on a she moves ahead. I cried because I got to see several friends. I was told by one that he always knew I would do something great. I hugged him, because I don’t believe anyone had told me that in a very very long time. It felt good to be in that place, at that moment, with those people. 

I cried because this time of the year does that to me. Ken will not be coming home this year for Christmas. He passed away in 2003, and I divorced his son in 2005. That history is just that, but Christmas is never the same since he died. He made it wonderful. Like the blue blanket he gave me one year because he knew I liked those new Velux blankets but couldn’t afford them. He was always doing stuff like that to make me feel loved and smart. It is why I have been able to succeed after feeling like I was a loser for so long. 

I cried because my school was 13-0 for the season. I have a thing about 13. After all, Ken was the 13the heart transplant in Arkansas. 

I cried because Sweetie was able to make it after thinking he might get stuck at stupid work and not be able to come. It meant so much for me to shared that moment with him. 

I cried because life is amazing, and even thought I have been through some really dark times in my life, the sunshine is finally upon my face. It feels good.