I: Third Hand

The year ended on a nice quiet note. There were a few days between our last family visit and New Year's Eve where it's impossible to remember what day it was or what was happening. Mel started knitting a blanket for Laura, we started another audiobook. At Mel's behest we watched Heated Rivalry over and over.

It may not necessarily have been a white Christmas but it was certainly a white New Year, as the stuff was coming down and making the road's hazardous. I know that because some guy honked at me when I yielded?? In the turning lane?? Like, are you on the same road I am?? Ugh, people.

We got build-your-own nachos from Black Bull, which has been our tradition, but I think we have to concede that, between the new grocery store chips and the quality of the meat, that maybe my nachos are just better and we need not spend such money anymore. We marked the night by watching a cheesy 2000's teen comedy that seemed like a pretty random thing to do, and then played our At-Home Escape Room, which was fun and we did really well at, until the final puzzle where I don't think we were set up for success. Ah well. I would still do it again. Really great gift. We did our usual thing of writing down words for the year (and in retrospect mine sounded a bit like a corporate seminar) and the thing we always say we're going to do where we put down our best memories from each month. Turns out we did a lot of great stuff in 2025! You love to see it.

On Jan 1, found myself on Instagram posting year-end stuff and looking at other peoples' accounts, and I got that sick feeling you get in your stomach when other people post about how good their lives are and it makes you go insane with jealousy and bitterness. But I took a walk and realized, what do I have to be envious of? I have a good life with a person who loves me, and I have Hank, which nobody else does. Money isn't great and we may be everything we want to be as a couple or as people, but we have it good and it was important for me to take a moment appreciate that. I told Mel all this and she was happy.

We also spent some time getting started on the next phase of our surrogacy, because why wait.

Mel went back to work on Friday the 2nd, much to her chagrin as there was static being handed down from the get-go.

This morning I have a nice cup of coffee -- I ground some of the beans Mel got me -- and had some Hankey cuddles in my nice robe. I spent some time yesterday thinking about what I can do for myself in 2026 and I don't quite have the answer but I have some directions to pursue.

So we'll leave off on that ambiguous note. Keep on rockin'

-Scotto