Bon any

Happy New Year!

We've just popped the twelve grapes into our mouths as the twelve tolls of the bell rang in the new year. We're at M's grandmother's apartment in Barcelona, not exactly a venue known for its wild nightlife, but one that suits us perfectly. Rather than shoving through the hordes flocking the Ramblas and Plaça Catalunya, we're calmly nibbling our desserts and drinking our cava, and calling friends and family to wish them a happy 2008.

This year promises to be an exciting one, as the Mister just received news of a major promotion: within a month or two he'll have a new, extremely prestigious job in European politics. In fact, it's one of those pieces of news that hasn't quite sunk in yet. It may mean major decisions about our living situation (Brussels? Barcelona?) but whatever happens, I'm looking forward to it, and I'm definitely proud of my husband.

Now it's past my bedtime, and I'm rubbing my sleepy eyes like a child who has mustered all her strength to stay up for the grownups' party, and is now ready to crawl into her pajamas.

Tomorrow the three of us (the Mister, his grandmother, and I) are putting on a big dinner for the family here at her place, yet another in a long string of overly abundant holiday meals over this Christmas vacation. Still to come: El Dia de Reis, the celebration of the arrival of the three Kings, whose camels come loaded with presents. Which means more presents! (And, ahem, more shopping for those of us who seem to wind up doing everything at the last minute...)

Wishing you a 2008 that is full of warmth, happiness, and joy!