Breathing Underwater

  1. I started blogging back in 2008 and maintained one (if you accept that by 'maintained' I mean 'I wrote sporadically') for a decade (and it changed names once, from ' Diane's Addled Ramblings ' to 'Rambling Toward Clarity,' but for the record, although I rambled quite a lot, I never really made it to clarity, so I probably shouldn't have bothered changing the name).  2. In 2018, I started my current blog, at which (in which?) I've written even more sporadically, but since I really do love blogging (though I accept that you'd be hard-pressed to believe it, given my woeful lack of consistency), I've decided that 2024 will be the year I give it a real go again.  3. So here are a few things about me (that may or may not be interesting) for a whole new community of writers and readers (and perhaps a few old readers and lurkers, all of whom I love).  4. I am much older than I was when I started this endeavor and am coming up (far too so

  Today is the Winter Solstice - which has long been my favorite day of the year. At least it was until a few years ago when I was hard-pressed to find a day I even wanted to be in, let alone a favorite.  Near the end of 2019, I could feel myself spiraling into a depression that wound up being the worst I've ever experienced. Though I've dealt with depression in my life, I always believed it was situational - like when my father died or my marriage ended. What I've realized is that it only got worse during those situations, but it had been with me for the long haul. I never believed that. When I was younger, I always thought that depression was synonymous with hopelessness and I had never felt hopeless. I could always see the light at the end of the tunnel. I always believed things would get better. Ergo, I couldn't be depressed. I didn't realize there are degrees of depression. I didn't realize you could function in a way that appeared to be normal to most peop

 It's been so long since I've written a blog post, I actually forgot how to get into my dashboard to start a new one! Sheesh! Hello to anyone who might still be reading!! I doubt there are many, but that's OK. I figure I talk to myself so much, writing to myself isn't much different, is it?  Inspired by my cousin's annual Christmas letter, I've decided to pen a little 2023 recap missive myself. I used to really enjoy doing Christmas letters, back when I made my own Christmas cards, and actually, you know, wrapped presents (instead of just having them sent via Amazon). I've not always been a slacker. Mostly. I haven't. Really. Shut up.  Anyway... back to the missive!  2023 - it was a pretty good year for me overall, really. And I don't remember the last time I said that. But it was.  It started in England in January, for a long-awaited wedding and long-overdue catch-ups with family, both chance and chosen. Whoo whee, that trip was good for my soul! Th