I meant to write this post yesterday, when it was still appropriate to wrap up the year that was coming to a close.

Oh, well.

When I was growing up in the '50s and '60s, we used to talk about "the year 2000" was if it were some far-off, futuristic date. Now it's 11 years in the past, and I have a grandchild to whom the 20th century is just history.

The year just past was one with some fairly amazing highs and lows to it. There were times I wasn't certain I would make it to the end of the year, and there were other times when 2010 seemed like an incredible new start to me. There were times when I would have sworn my marriage wasn't going to survive the year, and others when I loved my wife every bit as much as I ever did.

I began the year in California, the 20th New Year's Day I spent in the state where I was born. I ended it in Georgia, where I hope to spend the rest of whatever remains in my life. Will I have 20 more years? Maybe, but it isn't the quantity that matters as much as the quality.

[caption id="attachment_717" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Old friends and new ones"]<a href="http://mikerappaport.net/onevoice/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/20101202_12.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-717" title="20101202_12" src="http://mikerappaport.net/onevoice/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/20101202_12-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>[/caption]

I spent two weeks at home in Virginia in early November, two weeks that turned out to mean a great deal to me.

Not only did I get the chance to spend some time with my mother -- and who knows how many more chances there will be for that? -- I went to two reunions and saw college friends from my fraternity and from the newspaper staff that I hadn't seen in nearly 30 years.

There are few things in my life that have meant more to me than friendships. Getting the chance to spend time with folks who once mattered a great deal to me means more than I can ever really explain.

I lost 112 pounds this year, and while I have gained a little of it back, I have promised myself I will never weigh 200 again. I want to get back into the 170s, which won't be all that difficult. I'm starting today to wear my armband again and if it isn't raining tomorrow, I'll be out walking.

Where do I go from here?

I have three goals for 2011 -- to be the very best husband I can be, to finish my book before the end of the winter and to stay in shape.

I'll keep you posted on how I do.

Happy New Year.